Public defenders say former prisons director got special treatment from police
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Former Arizona Department of Corrections director Charles Ryan is facing potential prison time after an armed standoff at his Tempe home last month.
During the three-hour episode, police reports show Ryan pointed a gun at officers, who said they feared for their lives at times. He was eventually taken to a hospital to treat injuries he sustained from less-lethal rounds fired by police.
Since then, Tempe police submitted charges of aggravated assault against a peace officer and unlawful discharge of a firearm against Ryan. But he was never booked into jail.
Jimmy Jenkins of the Arizona Republic broke the story, and now, is hearing from public defenders who are outraged at what they see is disparate treatment of the former prisons director.
The Show spoke with Jenkins to learn about the case and how it all got started.
