2:25 P.M. UPDATE
A U.S. district judge ruled against convicted murderer Arron Lewis in his lawsuit against two Pulaski County sheriff's deputies Wednesday, saying Lewis' statements that police abused him were not believable.
Lewis lawsuit claimed that the deputies twice dislocated his shoulder in the days after his 2014 arrest in the disappearance of Realtor Beverly Carter.
But an attorney for the sheriff's office argued that Lewis' numerous lawsuits claiming injuries at the hands of law enforcement officials and contradictory statements Lewis' made about Carter's death discredited his claims.
District Judge Billy Roy Wilson declined to rule how Lewis dislocated his shoulder but said that Lewis "is obviously an intelligent individual, but he is not a believable individual."
Pulaski County Sheriff Doc Holladay said afterward that he was satisfied with the ruling.
"Hopefully we can put Arron Lewis behind us and let him go back down to Varner [Unit of the Arkansas Department of Corrections]," Holladay said.
Read Thursday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.
EARLIER:
The convicted killer of Realtor Beverly Carter said Wednesday that he led police on a "wild goose chase" through central Arkansas after rough treatment he alleges he received from two Pulaski County sheriff's deputies.
Arron Lewis continued to give testimony Wednesday in a U.S. district court hearing his lawsuit against the deputies, in which he claims they twice dislocated his shoulder in the days after his arrest on kidnapping, and then capital murder, charges.
Lewis' testimony retold portions of the defense he gave ahead of his January conviction, which is in the process of being appealed.
Lewis on Wednesday described making up directions as he led police on the search for Carter around midnight before another group of officers eventually discovered her body Sept. 30 buried behind a cement plant at which he had formerly worked.
Lewis said he was led to deceive police after one of the defendants in his lawsuit, reserve deputy Gary Seibel, dislocated Lewis' shoulder by pinning him up against a restroom wall and demanding he give information about Carter's whereabouts.
"If they're so adamant about going to look for this woman, then we're going on a road trip," Lewis testified.
After having his shoulder treated and placed in an immobility sling at the University of Arkansas Medical Center, Lewis said sheriff's office Lt. Jackson Bennett "snapped" it back out of place while aggressively tugging the sling off back at the jail.
Attorney David Fuqua, who cross-examined Lewis for the defense, said Lewis' deception of police searching for Carter, other contradictions in his statements and his numerous lawsuits against police and corrections officers are evidence that Lewis lacks credibility.
Lewis used his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination when asked about a man named "Trevor," who Lewis had said was involved in the crime, but who was found to not be involved.
U.S. District Judge Billy Roy Wilson placed the court in recess until 12:15 p.m., and said he would try to finish proceedings in the trial Wednesday afternoon.
Check back with ArkansasOnline for updates and read Thursday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.
