Martina Navratilova condemns police as "thugs with badges" after deaf man files notice of claim against Phoenix officers over brutal arrest

Martina Navratilova took a furious swipe at the police after a deaf man filed a $3.5 million notice of claim against Phoenix officers and the city of Phoenix itself. The man was brutally arrested in August but later alleged that he was manhandled despite informing the officers about his condition.

In August this year, Tyron McAlpin, a deaf Black man who also suffers from cerebral palsy, was violently arrested in broad daylight by two Phoenix police officers. The police accused McAlpin of assault; accusations that McAlpin's attorneys have since dismissed as false. The officers repeatedly punched him and proceeded to arrest him after using a taser.

Later, McAlpin stated that he tried to communicate his condition to Benjamin Harris and Kyle Sue, the two Phoenix police officers in question, but to no avail. Recently, McAlpin and his legal representatives revealed that he is going ahead with a $3.5 million notice of claim against Harris, Sue, and the city of Phoenix.

Amid the controversial developments, lawyer Ben Crump took to X (formerly Twitter) to criticize the police officers involved in McAlpin's violent arrest.

"Tyron McAlpin, the deaf Black man with cerebral palsy who was falsely accused of assault by Phoenix police, says he tried to point to his ears to tell officers he couldn’t hear them before he was punched 10+ times and tased 4x. This brutality remains unconscionable!" Crump wrote.

Another X user reshared Crump's post with the caption:

"F**k the police"

Former World No. 1 and 18-time singles Grand Slam winner Martina Navratilova took notice of the user's reshare, and proceeded to reshare it herself. Navratilova also aired her take on police brutality, writing:

"Thugs with a badge. And not just a few rotten apples"

Navratilova's take was later criticized by another X user, who accused the former World No. 1 of generalizing. The 18-time Major champion clapped back at the user.

"This happens too often. That is not a generalization but a statement of fact. American police, state or local, are much more likely to do this than any other democratic country. That is a fact, not a generalization. Try again," Martina Navratilova wrote.

Earlier this year, the Czech-American, widely regarded as one of the greatest tennis players of all time, had voiced similar sentiments following the detention of football star Tyreek Hill.

Martina Navratilova accused the police of abusing its power after controversial Tyreek Hill incident

Martina Navratilova (Source: Getty)

In September, Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill allegedly caused a traffic offense and as a result, was detained by Miami-Dade police officers. However, the manner of his detainment was controversial, as bodycam footage later emerged to suggest that the officers had handcuffed him after using violent force that led to Hill ending up on the floor.

Martina Navratilova took notice of developments and lambasted the police via an X post, writing:

"These policemen are such effing thugs. So drunk on their power. Sickening"

Late last year, Navratilova had criticized Mississippi police for treating a 10-year-old boy similar to an adult criminal in a public urination incident.