A man drowned in an Arizona lake while police officers were standing and allegedly ignoring their requests for help, according to a body camera transcript of the interaction.
Police were responding to a reported disturbance between a couple near the Elmore to Tempe pedestrian bridge on May 28 when one of the people jumped into the lake, local station News 12 reported.
Sean Bickings, 34, and his partner denied any physical altercation when officers arrived shortly after 5 p.m.
Officers then told the couple they were saying their names to see if any of them had arrest warrants pending when Bickings climbed a four-foot fence into the water and submerged, according to the body camera footage obtained by News 12.
“I’m going to swim,” Bickings said in the video. “I’m free to go, aren’t I?”
Police told Bickings he was not allowed to swim in the lake as they were on the other side of the fence.
Boats can be seen hugging from the shore as one officer asks the others, “How far do you think he will be able to swim?” before the video ends.
Tempe police did not release the full video of the incident because they said the drowning was too sensitive, according to News12, and instead provided a transcript of the footage.
Sean Bickings climbed the Elmore Pedestrian Bridge and jumped into the water. Google Maps
In the transcript, Bickings tells officers he is drowning and is told to swim to the pylon and catch him to stay afloat.
“I’m drowning,” he said.
“Go back to the pylon,” one agent replied.
“I can not. I can’t, “Bickings said.
“Okay, I’m not going to get behind you,” the other agent said.
“Please help me. Please, please, please,” Bickings pleaded. “I can’t touch. My God, please help me. Help me.”
The Bickings couple also asks the officers to do something to help him.
“I’m anxious because she’s drowning right in front of you and you’re not going to help me,” he said.
One of the officers threatened to put her in her police car if she did not calm down, according to the transcript.
The woman replies that she was trying to calm down, but she was getting excited because she loved Bickings and cared deeply about him.
At least one officer tried to get a boat to rescue Bickings, but it was too late.
The bickings passed under the surface of the water and drowned.
It is unclear how long it took for him to enter the water and drown. His body was recovered from the lake hours later at 11:20 p.m.
Scottsdale Police and the Department of Public Safety are investigating the incident and the police response.
The three policemen who responded to the riot call and witnessed the drowning have been placed on paid administrative leave pending the investigation, News12 reports.