Phoenix officer who slapped suspect is fired

A Phoenix police officer who pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct after slapping a handcuffed shoplifting suspect has been fired from the department, officials said Thursday.

Tim Baiardi, 44, was officially terminated Wednesday after previously working at the department for 18 years, Phoenix police Sgt. Tommy Thompson said.

Baiardi initially was charged with aggravated assault for slapping 22year-old Roger Moran after he was detained on suspicion of shoplifting at a Walmart at 51st Avenue and Indian School Road on Dec. 7.

However, Baiardi pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of disorderly conduct as part of a deal where he would receive unsupervised probation.

During a scuffle, Baiardi punched and kneed Moran in order to get him under control so he could handcuff him, according to a police report and surveillance video footage previously released by police.

Additional footage shows Baiardi slap Moran after he had been handcuffed and was sitting on a bench inside the store’s loss-prevention office.

“As soon as Moran sat down, Officer Baiardi slapped Moran across the left side of his face with considerable force,” a probable-cause statement filed in Maricopa County Superior Court stated.

Baiardi also was among Phoenix police officers who came under scrutiny for posting racist or inflammatory Facebook posts.

The posts were highlighted in a database called the Plain View Project. However, Thompson said Baiardi’s firing was not related to the investigation into the social media posts.

Baiardi’s next court date is scheduled for Aug. 30.