Arkansas Police Investigate Use of Force in Arrest Caught on Video
The Arkansas State Police are investigating the beating of a man during his arrest on Sunday morning outside a convenience store in Mulberry, Ark., by three officers,
by three officers, one of whom could be seen on video repeatedly punching the man’s head and smashing it into the pavement. Another officer held the man down while the third repeatedly drove his knee into the man’s body.
A 34-second video of the arrest, which was taken by a bystander in Crawford County, about 160 miles northwest of Little Rock, was shared widely on social media and even prompted Gov. Asa Hutchinson to weigh in.
Two of the officers were suspended, and one was placed on administrative leave during the investigation, law enforcement agencies said.
The man who was arrested was identified by Arkansas State Police as Randall Worcester, 27, of Goose Creek, S.C. The nature of his injuries was not immediately clear, but the State Police said he was treated at an area hospital and released.
They said he was charged with second-degree battery, resisting arrest, terroristic threatening, second-degree assault and other charges.
“The state police investigation will be limited to the use of physical force by the deputies and the police officer,” the Arkansas State Police said in a statement.