An Arkansas officer, Joseph Harris, was fired after video footage surfaced showing him punching and elbowing a handcuffed man in the back of a police car. The incident occurred in Jonesboro, and the termination was made effective immediately, according to a Facebook post by the Jonesboro Police Department. The department highlighted the gravity of the complaint as the reason for swift action and released the video for transparency.
The incident came to light after a complaint from the county sheriff's office, prompting an internal review by the police department. The 12-minute video shows a man in a hospital gown, detained in the back of a patrol car, stating that he had fentanyl in his system. He claimed that hospital nurses had ignored his previous complaints. The video then shows the man attempting to strangle himself with a seatbelt before Officer Harris opens the car door and repeatedly punches and elbows him. The door is seen slamming shut, appearing to hit the man's head.
Jonesboro Police Chief Rick Elliott expressed his shock and appalled at the incident, leading to Harris's immediate firing. Chief Elliott also stated his intent to refer the case to local prosecutors and to contact the FBI's Little Rock office. Additionally, he plans to request that the state decertify Harris as a police officer. As of now, Harris has not been criminally charged.
Chief Elliott emphasized that the situation did not require further investigation, as the wrongdoing was clear. The incident and the subsequent actions have drawn significant attention, highlighting concerns over police conduct. The BBC reached out to the Jonesboro Police Department for additional comments.
Link: BBC
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