Phoenix man says hot asphalt during arrest caused third-degree burns

An Arizona man says constabulary held him down connected scorching asphalt while arresting him during nan tallness of Phoenix's summertime power wave, causing third-degree burns connected his body.

Video obtained by CBS News from nan man's lawyer shows Michael Kenyon talking connected his compartment telephone stepping successful a parking batch connected July 6 erstwhile constabulary propulsion up successful a Phoenix constabulary truck. Two officers get retired and Kenyon puts distant his phone. Within a fewer minutes, they effort to handcuff him and a struggle ensues. Two backup officers past get astatine nan scene. 

It appears from nan video that nan 4 officers push Kenyon onto nan crushed and clasp him there. Officers past scuffle pinch Kenyon earlier he is yet handcuffed and nan officers assistance him from nan asphalt and escort him into a constabulary vehicle.

Kenyon's attorney, Bobby DiCello, said he spent much than 1 period successful nan infirmary aft nan incident recovering from burns from nan asphalt. 

When officers lifted Kenyon disconnected nan asphalt, his melted tegument peeled disconnected and fell to nan ground, his lawyer said. Police called an ambulance aft an serviceman noticed his burns, constabulary said.

Video stills show Phoenix constabulary holding Michael Kenyon connected nan ground. He later said he sewage burns connected his assemblage from nan asphalt.  Bobby DiCello

"They held a man — different quality being — connected a aboveground truthful basking that it caused his tegument to bubble and boil. It defies each reason," DiCello said successful a statement, adding his customer was now "scarred for life."

DiCello said nan somesthesia that time was 114 degrees, pinch nan asphalt estimated to beryllium betwixt 180 and 200 degrees. Phoenix deed 100 consecutive days pinch astatine slightest 100-degree temperatures during nan summer. Arizona has nan country's only main power officer, and Maricopa County, wherever Phoenix is located, is nan hottest metro area successful nan United States. 

Phoenix constabulary said officers responded to a telephone regarding a theft successful progress. "Officers made interaction pinch Kenyon, telling him he was being detained truthful they could understand what whitethorn person occurred. The man struggled pinch police, which resulted pinch him being taken to nan crushed connected nan basking asphalt. The man sustained burns to different parts of his assemblage from nan clip he was connected nan ground," constabulary said successful a connection to CBS News.

Police said Kenyon was wished not to beryllium nan robbery fishy they were searching for that day. Later erstwhile he was taken to nan hospital, officers learned he had a felony warrant retired for his arrest. 

Phoenix constabulary said their Professional Standards Bureau is investigating nan incident.

Kris Van Cleave contributed to this report.

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