Arkansas Police Officer Fired After Video Surfaces of Him Beating Handcuffed Man

Jonesboro, Arkansas: In a recent incident, Joseph Harris, an Arkansas police officer, was promptly terminated from his position following an internal review of a complaint regarding his use of force. Jonesboro Police Department released a statement on social media regarding the incident, which took place in northeast Arkansas, about 70 miles from Memphis, Tennessee.

Jonesboro Police released video footage of the incident, which shows Harris violently assaulting a handcuffed individual sitting in the back of his patrol car, wearing what appears to be a hospital gown. The man verbally expressed his concern, stating he had swallowed a bag of fentanyl and required immediate medical attention. In a disturbing turn of events, the video depicts the officer opening the car door and subjecting the man to repeated punches and elbows to the head, resulting in the man becoming unresponsive. A second, unidentified officer briefly checks on the man before closing the car door. Harris returns, rubbing the man's chest roughly with a tool, causing him to twist and groan in pain, and then closes the door on his head.

This incident has prompted communication between Jonesboro Police Chief Rick Elliott and the FBI, with the Little Rock office opening a case to address the matter.

Previous Citations of Excessive Force

This is not Harris' first encounter with consequences for excessive force. In the past, he received a 20-hour suspension without pay and was ordered to undergo additional training to address his conduct. Additionally, he is currently named in a wrongful death lawsuit filed in June, as reported by CNN.