Two Crawford County Deputies and a Mulberry Police Officer suspended after video shows violent arrest

The public is demanding answers after three Mulberry, Arkansas, law enforcement officers were seen on film reportedly using excessive force against a suspect outside The Kountry Xpress.

After a video showing a violent arrest was made public and sparked outrage on social media, three law enforcement officers were placed on administrative leave: two deputies from Crawford County and one from the Mulberry Police Department.

At approximately ten in the morning on Sunday, authorities from the Alma Police Department received a call reporting a guy who was threatening a worker at a convenience shop with terrorism, as stated by Sheriff Jimmy Damante of the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO). The suspect is accused of spitting on the worker and then making a threat to “chop off their face.”

According to Sheriff Damante, the individual then rode a bicycle to Mulberry, which is located close to Exit 20, where he met with the Mulberry police and the deputies. The sheriff claims that the man then began fighting one of the deputies by shoving him to the ground and punching the back of his head, which led to what was seen in the video. The conversation started off calmly; however, the sheriff claims that the man then began attacking him.

The man can be seen being held down on the ground by the deputies and the officer, who can then be seen kneeling on him and pushing his face down onto the ground in the footage.

The event is currently being looked into by the Arkansas State Police, while the CCSO is conducting its own investigation internally.

The City of Mulberry Police Department is aware of the video circulating on social media involving one of our officers.

The Arkansas State Police have been asked to investigate the incident.

The officer is on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.

The City of Mulberry and the Mulberry Police Department takes these investigations very seriously and holds all their officers accountable for their actions.

We will take the appropriate actions at the conclusion of the investigation.

According to Sheriff Damante, the deputy was given orders to report to the hospital so that they could be evaluated for their injuries.

After being transferred to a local hospital for treatment, the man, whose identity has not been made public at this time, was lodged into the local jail. At this point, we are unable to determine the full degree of his wounds. According to Sheriff Damante, he is facing charges of terroristic threatening, resisting arrest, second-degree battery, trespassing, aggravated assault, and being in possession of an instrument of crime. These charges are in addition to the fact that he was found in possession of an instrument of crime.

At this point, there has been no additional information provided. As new information becomes available, we will keep you apprised of any developments.