‘I’m not jumping in after you’: Arizona man drowns in front of three police officers who ‘ignored his desperate pleas for help’, bodycam footage shows
- Sean Bickings, 34, jumped into the Tempe Town Lake in Arizona on May 28
- Officers had attended after a reported disturbance between him and his wife
- Bickings then entered the water and police watched on as he drowned
- The incident is being investigated and the officers are on administrative leave
A man has drowned while three police officers allegedly watched on ignoring his pleas for help.
Sean Bickings, 34, jumped into Tempe Town Lake in Arizona on May 28 after a reported disturbance with his wife.
Officers had arrived at the scene at 5am after reports of the physical altercation, which the couple denied.
Sean Bickings, 34, jumped into Tempe Town Lake in Arizona on May 28 after a reported disturbance with his wife
The 34-year-old (pictured) drowned while three police officers allegedly watched on ignoring his pleas for help
While checking if the couple had any outstanding arrest warrants, Bickings climbed over a four-foot fence and jumped in the water, policy bodycam has revealed.
He is heard saying: ‘I’m going to go for a swim. I’m free to go, right?’
The cops told the 34-year-old he was not allowed to enter the lake while standing on the other side of the fence, as he leaped in.
He is seen swimming away from the shore while one officer is heard saying: ‘How far do you think he is going to be able to swim?’
The edited bodycam footage shared by officers then ends before Bickings drowned, because they said it was too sensitive.
While checking if the couple had any outstanding arrest warrants, Bickings climbed over a four-foot fence and jumped in the water
He is seen swimming away from the shore while one officer is heard saying: ‘How far do you think he is going to be able to swim?’
But they instead provided a transcript in which Bickings desperately appealed for help from the officers.
He said: ‘I’m drowning.’
One officer then replied: ‘Come back over to the pylon.’
Bickings said: ‘I can’t, I can’t.’
The other officer then said: ‘OK, I’m not jumping in after you.’
He begged: ‘Please help me. Please, please, please. I can’t touch. Oh God, Please help me. Help me.’
Bickings’ wife who was still on the scene also pleaded with officers to intervene, saying: ‘I’m just distraught because he’s drowning right in front of you and you won’t help.’
Officers had arrived at the scene at 5am after reports of the physical altercation, which the couple denied
The transcript claims one of the officers then threatened to put her in his police car unless she calmed down.
Eventually one officer tried to get a boat to rescue Bickings but it was too late and he dropped below the surface of the water.
His body was not recovered until 11.20am.
City Manager Andrew Ching and Police Chief Jeff Glover said the death was a ‘tragedy.’
The incident and the police response is being investigated by Scottsdale police and the department of public safety.
The officers have been placed on administrative leave pending the investigation, according to News12.
Officials said in a statement: ‘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.’
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