Arkansas police officers suspended after arrest beating caught on video

Three Arkansas law enforcement officers have been suspended following social media outrage over a video that showed two deputies and an officer beating up a suspect under arrest.

Crawford County Sheriff Jimmy Damante issued a statement on Sunday evening, stating two county deputies will be suspended during the Arkansas state police's investigation into the incident and the sheriff's office's internal investigation. 

A Mulberry police officer also was suspended.

“I hold all my employees accountable for their actions and will take appropriate measures in this matter,” Damante said.

In a statement released on Sunday evening, Mulberry Police Chief Shannon Gregory said the officer involved in the incident is on leave pending the outcome of the investigation.

“The city of Mulberry and the Mulberry police department takes these investigations very seriously,” Gregory said.

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Confronting police

According to police, a report indicated that a man was making threats to a convenience store employee in Mulberry on Sunday morning. Mulberry is located about 220.48 kilometres northwest of Little Rock.

Police said when the officers confronted the man, he pushed a deputy to the ground and punched the back of his head, leading to the arrest seen in the video.

In the video, the three law enforcement officers are seen on top of the suspect, sometimes striking him with clenched fists.

The unidentified man was arrested and taken to a local hospital. He faces charges of terroristic threatening, resisting arrest and other assault charges, police said.

No further information was immediately available.

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