Three police officers are accused of watching as a man drowned while disregarding his cries for aid.
After a reported disturbance with his wife, Sean Bickings, 34, leaped into Tempe Town Lake in Arizona on May 28.
Officers came at 5 a.m. after receiving complaints of a physical altercation, which the couple denied.
Bickings leapt over a four-foot fence and dived into the lake while investigating if the pair had any outstanding arrest warrants, according to policy bodycam footage.
‘I’m going for a swim,’ he is overheard saying. ‘Are you sure I’m free to leave?’
While standing on the other side of the barrier, the cops informed the 34-year-old that he was not permitted to access the lake.
He can be seen swimming away from the coast, and one officer can be heard asking, ‘How far do you think he’ll be able to swim?’
Officers then cut the bodycam film before Bickings drowned because it was too sensitive, according to them.
Instead, they handed them a transcript in which Bickings begged the authorities for assistance.
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.’
According to the transcript, one of the policemen threatened to put her in his police cruiser if she didn’t calm down.
One officer eventually tried to fetch a boat to save Bickings, but it was too late, and he sank beneath the water’s surface.
His body was discovered about 11:20 a.m.
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