Former Arkansas deputy sheriffs face federal charges in violent beating caught on video

Two former Arkansas sheriff deputies are being charged with federal civil rights offenses for allegedly utilizing extreme drive throughout a police arrest of a person at a gasoline station in Mulberry, Arkansas, the Justice Division introduced Wednesday.

A grand jury returned a two-count indictment towards Crawford County, Arkansas Sheriff’s Deputies Levi White and Zackary King, alleging that White repeatedly hit 27-year-old Randal Worcester of Goose Creek, South Carolina, through the Aug. 21, 2022 incident and King hit Worcester a number of occasions whereas he was mendacity on the bottom. 

“Randal could be very comfortable,” his lawyer Rachel Bussett advised CBS Information. “He’s grateful to see that the Division of Justice is pursuing costs towards the officers.”

Video of the arrest exhibits three officers repeatedly placing Worcester, who’s White, and slamming his head into the pavement. One officer repeatedly strikes Worcester with a closed fist whereas one other knee him a number of occasions within the decrease physique. A bystander filmed the police through the assault.

The officers have been responding to a report of a person making threats outdoors a Kountry Xpress gasoline station within the small city of Mulberry, about 140 miles northwest of Little Rock, close to the border with Oklahoma, authorities mentioned. In a federal civil rights lawsuit filed in August, Worcester mentioned he was driving his bicycle again to his dwelling in Goose Greek, South Carolina, in response to court docket paperwork — greater than 900 miles away. Initially from Oklahoma, Worchester is briefly dwelling in South Carolina as he’s homeless and struggles with psychological well being points, mentioned his lawyer. He was taking a bicycle journey however it isn’t clear how he arrived in Arkansas, mentioned his lawyer. 

He had stopped and requested the gasoline station attendant for water, and the attendant grew to become indignant and referred to as the police, court docket paperwork mentioned.

Worcester had allegedly made “terroristic threats” towards a gasoline station worker, police mentioned, and threatened to chop off the worker’s face. He then left and biked round seven miles earlier than police caught him, police mentioned. 

Worcester surrendered a knife after which “soccer tackled” one of many deputies and punched him behind the top, police mentioned. Not one of the officers have been sporting physique cameras, police mentioned. 

Mulberry police officer Thell Riddle, who was additionally on the scene, has not been charged with federal civil rights costs. He’s nonetheless listed on the Mulberry Police web site as a full-time police officer. CBS Information reached out to the Mulberry police division for clarification however there was no response earlier than publication. 

If convicted of the extreme drive costs, White and King resist 10 years in jail.