UPDATE 2:35 p.m.
Gov. Asa Hutchinson announced Monday the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Civil Rights division of the U.S. Department of Justice have launched a separate investigation into the arrest of a man by Crawford County sheriff’s deputies and a Mulberry police officer Sunday.
The federal investigation is in addition to the Arkansas State Police probe undertaken by its Special Investigation Unit, the governor said at an afternoon press conference.
“First of all, that is reprehensible conduct in which a suspect is beat in that fashion,” Hutchinson said of a video, widely circulated on social media, showing the arrest of Randal Ray Worcester.
“We don’t have all of the details, and certainly that suspect had a history of concern that was legitimate for the officers, but what that response was, was not consistent with the training that they receive as certified officers with the Arkansas Law Enforcement Training Academy,” Hutchinson said.
Hutchinson has called the sheriff of Crawford County, who promised full cooperation in the ensuing investigations, the governor said.
EARLIER: 12:40 p.m.
MULBERRY — The law enforcement officers under investigation for using excessive force are Crawford County Deputy Zack King, Deputy Levi White and Mulberry Officer Thell Riddle, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
“There was a comment shared about Zack King’s address yesterday, this is a civilian and is not the Crawford County Deputy or associated with the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office,” according to a message on the office’s Facebook page.
“Please refer questions to the Arkansas State Police and Federal Bureau of Investigations. We are cooperating with all aspects of their investigation and will make a statement to the public at a later time,” it reads.
An administrative assistant with the office confirmed the information Monday.
Gov. Asa Hutchinson is set to comment on the video-taped incident at a news conference this afternoon, according to his office.
EARLIER:
Two deputies and one officer are suspended as Arkansas State Police investigates "physical force" the men used while arresting a man Sunday in Crawford County.
A video surfaced on social media Sunday and quickly went viral that shows three law enforcement officers punching and kneeing a man and slamming his head to the ground. Police can also be seen telling a bystander to get away from the scene, according to video footage.
Crawford County Sheriff Jimmy Damante said two of his deputies and a Mulberry officer are in the video. He refused to release the names of the men as the state police investigation is pending.
The incident happened at about 10:40 a.m. Sunday at Kountry Xpress near exit 20 off Interstate 40 in Mulberry, according to officials.
The man being arrested in the video was identified as Randal Worcester, 27, of Goose Creek, S.C., according to a state police press release. Worcester was transported to an area hospital for examination and treatment, it says. He was later released and jailed at Van Buren, according to the release.
Worcester is charged with second-degree battery, resisting arrest, refusal to submit, possessing an instrument of crime, criminal trespass, criminal mischief, terroristic threatening, and second-degree assault, the release stated.
Damante said one officer went to the hospital for his injuries as well.
"I put them on administrative leave as soon as I found out about it," Damante said. "I didn't know anything about it until everything started to blow up.
"I do hold my personnel and my employees to a high standard and they will be held accountable for their actions."
In a Facebook post, Mulberry City Limits said the city and the police department "takes these investigations very seriously and holds all their officers accountable for their actions."
Mayor of Mulberry Gary Baxter said in a statement posted on the Facebook page that he was "shocked and sickened."
Baxter said he immediately coordinated with officers to follow the appropriate policy, which resulted in placing the officers on administrative leave.
[WARNING: The below video includes graphic violence and strong language.]
[Twitter post not showing up above? Click here to watch » twitter.com/NaomiRHelm/status/1561436191895035904
"I want to assure you, the citizens of Mulberry, and those who visit our city, that Mulberry Police Officers will treat all people with dignity and respect," Baxter said. "Should this ever show to not be the case, action will be immediate and decisive."
Gov. Asa Hutchinson tweeted that he spoke with Col. Bill Bryant with the Arkansas State Police.
"The local arrest incident in Crawford County will be investigated pursuant to the video evidence and the request of the prosecuting attorney," the tweet said.
Kwami Abdul-Bey is the legislative political action committee chair of the Jacksonville NAACP. The advocate said he was glad the video was posted on social media to bring awareness, despite how hard it was to view.
"Normally when I see these videos, they're from some other state," Abdul-Bey said. "But then when I see the videos or hear about the incident and it's here in my home state of Arkansas, it makes it even more painful to watch and to know that that's going on."
Abdul-Bey said he's been working with law enforcement and the legislature for several years to hold officers accountable.
"This video reminds me that we live in a society that refuses to place a higher standard of care, a higher standard of responsibility, a higher standard of duty to law enforcement officers," Abdul-Bey said.
Abdul-Bey said it doesn't matter what the person's race, gender or age was -- unnecessary, excessive force was still used. Abdul-Bey said he will be reaching out to Worcester to discuss further steps.
Executive Director for the ACLU of Arkansas Holly Dickson said in a statement that the behavior of police is "unacceptable" and shows that law enforcement in the state needs adjustments.
"In order to modernize policing, we must, at minimum, establish a statewide, independent standards board to receive public complaints about the police," Dickson said.
After the state police complete their investigation, the case file will be submitted to the Crawford County prosecuting attorney who will determine whether the use of force by the officers was consistent with Arkansas laws, according to a news release from state police.