LITTLE ROCK — Misdemeanor criminal charges lodged against the Arkansas surgeon general after his arrest during a confrontation with Little Rock police have been resolved, with prosecutors offering Dr. Joe Thompson the opportunity to clear his record.
On Thursday, prosecutors in Little Rock District Court dropped a count of attempting to influence a public servant and agreed to withdraw two other misdemeanor counts — disorderly conduct and refusing to submit to arrest — if Thompson stays out of trouble for six months, said Prosecuting Attorney Larry Jegley.
“I’m confident we won’t have any more problems in the future,” Jegley said.
Th ompson wa s not scheduled for trial until Wednesday.
Thursday’s hearing before District Judge Alice Lightle was unscheduled and im- promptu — and the first opportunity to resolve the case once the sides agreed on a resolution, Jegley said. Combined, the charges carried a maximum penalty of a year in jail.
Police have been criticized in public forums over Thompson’s arrest. Jegley said he agreed to the arrangement after consulting with Little Rock Police Chief Stuart Thomas, saying he emphasized that the resolution was not a reflection on how the arrest was conducted. Jegley also said he did not want the resolution to be misinterpreted by the public.
“Once the police start doing their job, citizens have no right to be noncompliant,” Jegley said.
Thompson, 49, was arrested March 31 at his Hillcrest home after a late-night argument with police officers, who forced him to the ground to be handcuffed.
Officers had been called to Thompson’s Ridgeway Drive home by a Stephens Inc. security officer after Thompson questioned the man, 26-yearold Jacob Farque, about why he had been parked in front of Thompson’s home late at night.
Farque called 911 to complain that Thompson had been provocative, “getting in [his] face.” Officers Christopher Johannes and Nicholas Kinsey then went to question Thompson, reporting that they arrested him on his porch when they found him uncooperative.
Reached for comment Friday, Thompson’s attorney, Jack Lassiter, said his client has no plans to sue. Thompson released a statement Friday saying he was pleased with the outcome.
Po lice re ported that Thompson had identified himself as the surgeon general. Officers also said Thompson told them his arrest was a mistake because he works for the governor, according to a police report.
In his statement, Thompson said the release of police video and audio recordings showed officer reports had not been completely accurate. But he described his encounter with police as an aberration for the department.
“I want to point out that the dash-cam video and audio recording of the incident proves that I clearly did not make the quoted statements attributed to me in the police report that were the basis for the charge of attempting to influence an officer,” the statement said. “I have great respect for and have worked closely with police officers and troopers across the state to assist in the health and safety of our citizens. I believe my experience that evening does not reflect the usual professionalism in our law enforcement agencies.”
Thompson also commended Lassiter for negotiating the agreement and thanked friends, family and colleagues for their support.
Thompson, a gubernatorial appointee, has been the state’s chief medical officer since 2005. Matt DeCample, Gov. Mike Beebe’s spokesman, said the governor never lost confidence in Thompson’s abilities to perform his duties.
“We’re glad to see it resolved,” DeCample said. “[Weeks] ago, the governor considered it over.”
The Police Department launched an internal review of the arrest, but Lt. Terry Hastings, the department spokesman, did not return a call seeking the results of that probe.
Last month, the city of Little Rock agreed to pay $10,000 to settle an arrestee’s complaint of brutality against Johannes and a second officer, Erick Temple. The settlement admitted no wrongdoing. Demetrius Curtis, 43, claimed the officers smashed his face into a store window and the trunk of a police car and then punched him in the mouth during an April 2008 arrest.
In December, Johannes, working off-duty, shot and injured two men after one of them drove his car toward security guards at a shopping mall.
Authorities reported finding cocaine, drug-dealing paraphernalia and a pistol in the car, leading to drug-trafficking and gun charges against one of the men, 29-year-old Joseph Pierre Williams of Little Rock. The car’s driver, Williams, is also charged with three counts of aggravated assault, accused of jeopardizing the lives of Johannes and the two guards, Sara Hawkins and Trista Simmons.
Front Section, Pages 1 on 05/26/2012