The Faulkner County sheriff's office fired a deputy Friday after an internal investigation revealed that he kicked a suspect during an arrest in May, sheriff's office officials say.
Deputy Eugene Watlington received his termination notification Friday for use of "excessive force" during a May 4 traffic stop, the sheriff's office said in a statement. The sheriff's office will also move to have the deputy de-certified as a law enforcement officer, the statement said.
Watlington and other deputies stopped a stolen vehicle in Mayflower early that morning before chasing it to Conway. The car was being driven by Christopher Cummings, 29, and Harvey Martin III, 46, was a passenger, deputies said.
When deputies stopped the car in Conway, they apprehended Cummings after a struggle while he still had a 9mm pistol in his possession that he had shot at deputies during the chase, agency officials said. Martin was "forcibly removed" from the vehicle when he did not respond to deputies commands, the statement said.
"A struggle ensued to restrain Martin and place him in handcuffs," officials said.
Both men were treated for minor injuries at a local hospital that night, according to the statement.
Watlington and other deputies involved in the arrest were placed on administrative leave after officials reviewed a body camera recording of Martin's arrest and opened an investigation, the statement said.
"It is clear from interviews, law enforcement supplemental reports and the video recording that Deputy Eugene Watlington engaged in the gratuitous striking (kicking) of suspect Martin while other deputies struggled to restrain the suspect," the statement said.
The other deputies involved in the arrest have not been named as they are still on administrative leave and under investigation, officials said.
A criminal investigation was also initiated to determine if Watlington would receive felony charges, according to the sheriff's office statement. The investigation should be complete next week and forwarded to the 20th Judicial District prosecuting attorney's office, officials said.