The City of Tempe, Arizona, released body-camera video of the moments before a man drowned as three police officers allegedly stood by and refused to help.
Police were called to respond to a disturbance reported at a pedestrian bridge at Tempe Town Lake on the morning of May 28. Officers spoke to Sean Bickings, 34, and his companion, who denied there had been any physical altercation.
When the officers told the pair they were checking their names against a database for outstanding warrants, Bickings climbed over the fence and into the water, the video shows. Bickings can be heard saying hes “going for a swim,” and asked officers, “Im free to go right?” Police told him that swimming in the lake was not allowed, but did not stop him.
After Bickings swims a few strokes out, one officer can be heard saying “How far do you think he is going to be able to swim?” The city cut off the video at that point, due to the sensitivity of Bickings death, and instead released a transcript of the rest of the recording.
In the transcript, Bickings tells officers hes drowning, and they tell him to swim over to a pylon. “I cant. I cant,” he said.
“Okay, Im not jumping in after you,” an officer said.
“Please help me. Please, please, please,” Bickings said. “I cant touch. Oh God, please help me. Help me.”
According to the transcript, Bickings companion also begged the officers to help. One of the officers told her to calm down or hed have to put her in the police car.
Scottsdale Police and the states Department of Public Safety are investigating the incident and police response. The officers who were there have been placed on administrative leave.
