PHOENIX — A Phoenix couple says they are willing to cooperate in the prosecution of the officers accused of police brutality after a viral video surfaced of a shoplifting incident.
A representative of Dravon Ames and Iesha Harper tells ABC15 the couple took several days to decide whether they wanted to pursue charges. They say the request for their assistance came from the city through the couple's attorney's office. It's unclear whether authorities have decided a criminal case would be appropriate.
A Phoenix Police spokesman, Sgt. Tommy Thompson, said he "did not have any information" that would lead him to believe the officers are under criminal investigation, but he also has no information on the ongoing internal investigation. According to Sgt. Mercedes Fortune, the internal investigation would be paused if a criminal case is pursued, and the investigations are conducted independently of each other.
FULL COVERAGE: Phoenix police use of force incident
The couple filed a $10 million dollar claim against the city over the May 2019 incident after they were accused of stealing items from a Family Dollar store. The couple and their two young children were held at gunpoint and threatened using obscene language. Dravon was violently kicked by an officer. The officers' names have not been released.
Ames and Harper planned to attend a Phoenix City Council meeting Tuesday afternoon where officials will discuss several options to improve community relations and root out troublesome officers.
RELATED: Phoenix Police Chief Jeri Williams booed while responding to community comments
