Arizona man loses job after police handcuff him

Darnay Cockrell Authorities called for help, but instead the officers handcuffed him and forced him to the ground. Audio and bodycam footage from the August 6 incident have been released, and Cockrell is facing consequences in response.

Recorded footage A passerby shows two police officers from Mesa, Arizona, trying to arrest Cockrell. The 52-year-old asks the officers to handcuff him “just his hands” instead of forcing him to the ground.

In a GoFundMe page Lenair Tucker, set up by Cockrell's neighbor, wrote: “Although no crime was committed, the officer persisted in his demands. Darnay refused to lie on the ground as he had recently undergone surgery and had ongoing knee problems.”

The bystander and Cockrell repeatedly informed officers of Cockrell's condition, but their pleas were ignored. The two officers who responded eventually forced Cockrell to the ground before handcuffing him.

A statement from Mesa police said Cockrell “displayed a high level of emotion, which is understandable. However, because emotions were running so high, he did not follow reasonable instructions given to him by the officer and made comments that raised concerns for the officer's safety.”

Officers repeatedly told Cockrell to “calm down,” but the father was visibly distressed throughout the incident. As he sat on the ground, Cockrell repeatedly asked officers, “How would you feel?!” if your child had been kidnapped.

“I feel less like a human being,” Cockrell said during a Zoom call with ABC15“What do you expect next time – that I call the police? I will never do that again in my life.”

The Arizona father claimed his daughter was kidnapped by her mother, Nicole Conner-Sharp, who he said was a drug addict. Daily MailAccording to him, Conner-Sharp came to Cockrell's apartment to visit her daughter, but then disappeared with the child without permission.

His daughter was returned to him within hours, but the aftermath of the now-viral incident became even clearer later. In the footage, Cockrell can be seen wearing a company T-shirt. After the video was posted on Instagram, Cockrell's employer got wind of the exchange and he was fired, according to ABC15.

So far, the GoFundMe page has raised more than $2,500. Cockrell has also filed a formal complaint against the officers.