A homeless man has drowned in the US state of Arizona. While he was appealing from the water, three policemen stood and watched.
The police officers moved out after an alarm about some kind of brawl between the man and his partner, at a lake in the city of Tempes. Film clips recorded by the police’s body cameras show how they stand and talk, until the 34-year-old man says that he is “free to walk now, right?” and jumps into the water.
There he swims out towards a footbridge and gets into trouble.
– So what are your plans now, asks one of the police, according to a transcript of the parts of the recording that the authorities have judged are too sensitive to spread.
– I will drown, I will drown, the man shouted.
– No, you will not. Get to the pillar and hold on, another of the policemen replied, which the man shouted he could not.
– Okay, I will not jump in and pick you up, the police answered roughly.
According to the incident, the police continue to urge the man to swim, while also trying to control his increasingly upset partner.
“Can you hear me?” is said to be the man’s last cry.
The 34-year-old was later found dead in the water. The three police officers have been suspended from work while the matter is investigated.