The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office has filed a direct complaint with the court against a Phoenix police officer seen on surveillance video hitting a handcuffed shoplifting suspect, court documents show.
The Phoenix Police Department said it received word Wednesday that the attorney’s office is moving forward with prosecution after police recommended a felony charge of aggravated assault against 44-year-old Officer Timothy Baiardi
According to the police report, Baiardi arrested 22-year-old Roger Moran in the men’s clothing area of the store on suspicion of shoplifting. Surveillance video from the store shows Moran taking off his own pants and putting on a pair of pants he took from a rack.
The suspect and officer are seen struggling as Baiardi tries to handcuff Moran. According to a booking report, in the process of taking Moran into custody, Baiardi kneed the suspect two to three times and punched him four to five times… 12 News NBC