Arizona: — Three police officers have been placed on a suspended pay administrative leave after a homeless man jumped into an Arizona lake last month and drowned. The officers watched from a bridge while refusing to go in and save the man, authorities said.

The victim, identified as 34-year-old Sean Bickings, drowned in Tempe town lake while three unnamed Tempe police officers stood by and watched, one telling Bickings “I’m not jumping in after you,”.

Sean Bickings

Bodycam footage and a transcript of the incident showed Bickings jumping into the Lake on May 28 following a public argument between him and his wife. Tempe police were called to investigate. The man was seen stepping down from a bridge ramp and getting into the water below after officers arrived around 5 a.m.

As police checked to see if the man was the subject of any outstanding arrest warrants, Bickings climbed over a 4-foot fence and jumped in the water. He is heard saying, I'm free to go, right? You’re not allowed to swim in the lake,” one officer warned, according to the video.

Footage released by the city shows 12 minutes of the officers’ interactions, though it then cuts off because of the “sensitive nature” of the remaining footage, the Tempe Police Department said.

The transcript also showed officers tried to calm down Mr. Bickings' companion as she grew increasingly distraught, telling her they were getting a boat.
At one point, she shouted: "He's drowning right in front of you and you won't help."

One of the police officers later notes that Bickings "hasn't surfaced in about 30 seconds." 

His body was later recovered.