Phoenix police officer arrested on suspicion of assaulting a handcuffed man

A Phoenix police officer has been arrested and booked for aggravated assault after body camera footage showed the officer assaulting a handcuffed man, according to the Phoenix Police Department.

Phoenix detectives arrested officer Conner Orth-Smith for an aggravated assault incident that occurred on July 16, according to a press release on the department's Facebook page.

Orth-Smith was called to a local hospital after a man, who appeared to be intoxicated, refused to leave and became physical with security personnel, police said.

Orth-Smith agreed to transport the man to another facility for help. Later interactions led to an arrest of the man for aggravated assault against Orth-Smith, police said.

However, the Maricopa County Attorney's Office alerted Phoenix police about the body camera footage several days later. An internal review by the department showed Orth-Smith physically assaulted the man while he was in handcuffs, causing visible injuries, according to police.

Police found the man's actions did not invoke the response by Orth-Smith in any way.

“The behavior captured on the body-worn camera in this instance is egregious, appalling and will not be tolerated,” said Police Chief Jeri Williams in a statement. “Our agency took decisive and immediate action. Acts like these leave a blemish on the badge and affect the noble profession of policing, making it more difficult for the men and women who police with integrity and honor.”

A criminal investigation is still ongoing. An administrative investigation into potential policy violations is also being conducted, police said.

Orth-Smith has worked with the department since May of 2020 after he graduated from the Phoenix Regional Police Academy. He patrolled the Maryvale-Estrella Mountain Precinct since November of 2020. He has since tendered his resignation, police said.

“This isolated incident is not reflective of the work being done by the good women and men of our agency,” said Williams. “They work diligently to protect the lives and property of our community.”

Reach breaking news reporter Michael Donohue at Michael.Donohue@arizonarepublic.com or on Twitter @MRDonohue4

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