If you weren’t already struggling with the police force in this nation — though, after the Uvalde tragedy, I don’t see how anyone could not be — this should do you in.
Disturbing new transcripts and video footage have been released this week, showing the harrowing final moments of Sean Bickings’ life on earth, as police in Arizona allowed the man to drown right before their eyes, while absolutely refusing to go into the water to help or rescue the obviously struggling man.
A report from Fox29 claims that the Tempe police were dispatched to settle a domestic violence situation between Sean Bickings and his wife. However, both of them said upon the police’s arrival that there was no violence taking place and neither one of them made the call to dispatch.
Arizona police have stated that Sean was identified as an “unsheltered Tempe community member.” Both Sean and his wife told law enforcement officials that there was no violence nor dispute that needed to be handled and neither of the Bickings were going to be detained.
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However, when the officer stated that he was going to run their names to determine if they had any warrants, Sean Bickings took off, ultimately jumping into the lake that was nearby where the police responded to the alleged domestic situation.
In a statement released by the police department, law enforcement officials claim, “That check had not yet been completed when Bickings decided to slowly climb over a 4-foot metal fence and enter the water. Officers informed him swimming is not allowed in the lake. He swam about 30-40 yards before repeatedly indicating he was in distress. He soon went under and did not resurface.”
Sean Bickings ultimately drowned in that lake as officers refused to go in after him when he began to call for help.
The transcript that was released cited police officers shouting back and forth.
“I’m drowning,” Bickings yelled from the water.
“Come back over to the pylon,” an officer noted as “Officer 2” reportedly responded to his call for help.
“I can’t. I can’t (inaudible),” Bickings responded.
“OK, I’m not jumping in after you,” an officer cited as “Officer 1” shouted back.
It was at this point that Sean’s wife began to panic, begging the law enforcement officials to please help her husband. This prompted one officer to tell her, “If you don’t calm down, I’m going to put you in my car.”
“I’m just distraught because he’s drowning right in front of us and you won’t help,” Sean’s wife continued to beg and plead with the police.
The police claimed at this point that one officer was going to get a boat.
“The three Tempe police officers who responded to the call and witnessed the drowning have been placed on non-disciplinary paid administrative leave pending the investigations, as is customary in critical incidents,” the statement from the police department read.
Read the full report from Fox29 here.
See the video footage here:
Featured image via screen capture
