Phoenix police officer accused of hitting cuffed suspect

PHOENIX (AP) — A Phoenix police officer suspected of striking a handcuffed shoplifting suspect could face a criminal misconduct charge.

Phoenix police said Friday the department had finished a criminal investigation and submitted a recommendation to prosecutors to charge the 44-year-old officer.

Police spokesman Vincent Lewis says authorities became aware of the December incident in February when they received a video.

The footage showed the officer, who police did not name, hitting a 22-year-old shoplifting suspect already in custody.

Lewis says the officer was off-duty at a west Phoenix store and ended up in an altercation with the suspect. During the fight, the officer struck the man with his knee and closed fist a few times before handcuffing him.

The officer, a 17-year-veteran of the department, has been on administrative leave.