PHOENIX — A plea agreement between prosecutors and a Phoenix police officer who was caught on video slapping a handcuffed shoplifting suspect is released.
In the agreement obtained by ABC15, Officer Tim Baiardi has pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct and will be placed on unsupervised probation.
He also must pay restitution to the victim and report his conviction to the Arizona Police Officers Standards and Training Board, including all documents and footage of the incident.
Phoenix police say Baiardi was working as security for a Walmart store off 52nd Avenue and Indian School Road in December 2018.
Video shows the officer and the suspect, Roger Moran, walk into the store's loss prevention room. Baiardi slaps Moran as soon as he sits down. The department opened a criminal investigation after it learned of the incident and placed Baiardi on leave.
He was charged with aggravated assault a month later.
In the probable cause document, police wrote Baiardi "slapped [Roger] Moran across the left side of his face with considerable force" and when questioned by two supervisors "provided no justification for the strike."
The judge must still accept the plea agreement at his sentencing, which is scheduled for August 30.
