Drowning man ignored by police while pleading for help dies: Lawsuit claims

A mother from Arizona has reached a settlement with Tempe city over a lawsuit that claimed police ignored her son's pleas as he drowned before their eyes. 

An officer allegedly said to the 34-year-old, "I'm not jumping in after you," moments before he submerged, as per police records and body camera evidence.

"I'm going to drown!" cried Sean Bickings, struggling to stay above water in Tempe Town Lake on May 28, 2022, according to his mother's legal filing, sourced by Law&Crime.

"No, you're not," an officer reportedly responded.

"Yes, I am!" Bickings shouted back.

"[A different officer], with seemingly no urgency, directed Bickings to swim toward a pylon," the complaint described. "When Bickings stated he was unable to, [the officer] replied, 'Okay. I'm not jumping in after you.'"

Court documents indicate that the city of Tempe agreed on Monday to a $150,000 settlement to resolve the wrongful death lawsuit filed by Bickings' mother in May 2023. 

Her complaint alleged that two police officers witnessing the drowning not only ignored Bickings' calls for help but also restrained and handcuffed his partner when she tried intervening. Bickings had entered the lake during a police interaction.

"The transcripts and unreleased [bodycam] recordings … show defendant Tempe police officers detaining Bickings' partner, the sole person showing any concern for Bickings' wellbeing," the complaint mentioned. "When she attempted to save him, she was physically restrained and handcuffed … She pleaded with the Tempe police officers to aid Bickings as she sat helplessly, handcuffed."

According to police transcripts and footage, an officer allegedly told Bickings' partner, "You need to calm down." She responded saying "I love him" and "please stop being so aggressive," the complaint stated.

"He's all I have," she expressed. "I can't lose him. He's going to die."

Throughout this ordeal, Bickings continued begging for assistance, or for someone to act and prevent his drowning, the complaint revealed. "Please help me! Please! Please! Please!…I can't touch," he reportedly screamed. "Oh God. Please help me! Help me!"

The officers present at the scene made no attempt to rescue Bickings, the complaint alleged. Shortly afterward, he sank and drowned.

Nevertheless, just 11 days earlier, officers had no difficulty saving a dog from the lake, the complaint noted. 

"Bodycam footage captures … two officers securing a good Samaritan on the canal's edge, unconcerned about the water's proximity," the complaint stated. "The Tempe police officers assisted in rescuing a dog despite potential risks of being pulled into the canal themselves. Those officers were ready to face that risk for a dog on May 17, 2022; but on May 28, 2022, the involved Tempe police officers did not even approach the banks of Tempe Town Lake as a person drowned in front of them."

Local authorities issued a statement following Bickings' drowning, pledging to enhance their water rescue procedures. 

The city confirmed the settlement to Law&Crime on Thursday in a statement, saying, "We trust the resolution of this lawsuit brings comfort to those grieving his loss."