A state investigation was launched after a bystander recorded three Arkansas police officers repeatedly punching and kneeing a man during an arrest Sunday in Mulberry, Ark. All three officers — two deputies with the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office and an officer with the Mulberry Police Department — have been suspended, their departments confirmed.
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In the video, which was posted on social media, officers can be seen restraining a man on the sidewalk as they violently punch the man in the head and knee him in the back and side. Story continues below ad At one point the woman filming the video shouts “Don’t hit him! He needs his medicine!’ An officer tells the bystander to “Back the fk up.” Another officer tells the woman to get into her car. The arrested suspect was later identified by Arkansas State Police as 27-year-old Randal Worcester of Goose Creek, SC. He has been charged with second-degree battery, resisting arrest, possession of a criminal instrument, criminal trespass, criminal mischief, terroristic threatening and first- and second-degree assault charges, according to state records. Randal Worcester, who was arrested by Arkansas State Police on Sunday, August 21, 2022. Crawford County Sheriff’s Department Crawford County Sheriff Jimmy Damante told ABC affiliate news station KHBS that the incident began at a gas station in Alma, where the suspect is accused of threatening an employee. He said Worcester then rode a bicycle to a Kountry Xpress grocery store, where the arrest took place. Story continues below ad
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Damante claimed Worcester was cooperative at first, but “became violent and attempted to assault the officers.” He argued that’s why the three officers had Worcester restrained on the sidewalk. One officer suffered minor head injuries during the arrest, the sheriff said. Damante told KHBS Worcester he was taken to the hospital and booked into jail. According to state prison records, Worcester’s bond is set at $15,000. It remains unclear if he has legal representation at this time. Both the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office and the Mulberry Police Department confirmed that the officers involved have been placed on leave pending the results of the investigation by the Arkansas State Police. In a statement shared on Facebook, the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office wrote that it requested the investigation from state officials. “I hold all of my employees accountable for their actions and will take appropriate action in this matter,” the statement continued. The Mulberry Police Department also said it was “aware of the video circulating on social media involving one of our officers.” Story continues below ad “The officer is on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation,” the statement said. “The City of Mulberry and the Mulberry Police Department take these investigations very seriously and hold all of their officers accountable for their actions.” 2:46 Arkansas governor criticizes ‘reprehensible behavior’ of police after violent arrest caught on camera Arkansas governor criticizes ‘reprehensible behavior’ of police after violent arrest caught on camera Mulberry Mayor Gary Baxter said he was “shocked and sickened” by the officers’ video. “Once the investigation by the Arkansas State Police is complete, we will take the results of the investigations very seriously and take whatever action is necessary for the insurance [sic] this will never happen again,” Baxter wrote in a statement. Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson said he had spoken with state police and the incident would be investigated “based on the video evidence and the prosecutor’s request.” Story continues below ad I spoke with Colonel Bill Bryant of the Arkansas State Police and the local arrest incident in Crawford County will be investigated based on the video evidence and the DA’s request. — Governor Asa Hutchinson (@AsaHutchinson) August 22, 2022 0:28 Winnipeg police receive provincial funding to detect firearms Previous Video Next Video © 2022 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
