Lawsuit alleges 2 Arkansas deputies used excessive force

Injured by officer who had violent past, ex-inmate says

The Pulaski County sheriff's office and two of its former deputies have been named in a federal excessive-force lawsuit that says an inmate was permanently crippled by a deputy who, the suit says, had a history of violent behavior.

The lawsuit was filed by Kevin Foy, a Little Rock man who says the jailers severed ligaments in his arm during a forceful strip search in 2014. Foy is being represented by civil-rights attorney Morris Thompson.

According to Thompson, Foy is unable to open or use his right hand.

On Dec. 17, 2014, Foy was sitting at the River Cities Travel Center bus depot drinking when a Little Rock police officer noticed his slurred speech and glazed eyes, according to reports.

"Take me to jail. I have warrants anyway," Foy told the officer, his arrest report says.

The Little Rock officer arrested him and turned him over to the custody of the Pulaski County jail staff.

During his jail intake, former Pulaski County Deputy Austin Callahan was inventorying Foy's possessions -- some loose change, $15 in cash -- when Foy reached for the change on the table, according to the lawsuit. Callahan then accused Foy of pocketing some of the coins, which Foy denied, the suit says.

"When Foy told Callahan he had nothing, Callahan angrily told him to take off his clothes to be strip searched," the suit says. "Foy objected to being strip searched but did not resist or fight with Callahan," the suit says.

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