In November 2022, a Wall Street Journal reporter, Dion Rabouin, filed a complaint with the Phoenix Police Department Professional Standards Bureau against Phoenix Police Officer Caleb Zimmerman. Rabouin alleged the officer used excessive force while unlawfully detaining him, detained him based on race and threatened to assault him if he did not comply.
During the course of an internal investigation, an issue came to light that was not part of the original complaint. The officer legally detained Rabouin, then identified him by removing a wallet from his pocket.
Retrieving Rabouin’s wallet violated Department search and seizure policy.
The investigation found the allegations of unlawful detention, detention based on race and use of excessive force were unfounded.