Iesha
On Tuesday, the US Department of Justice announced that two former Arkansas officers had been charged with civil rights violations after video of a violent arrest was shared on social media.
In an August 21 arrest, former Crawford County Sheriff’s Deputies Zack King and Levi White are accused of repeatedly beating Randal Worcester while he was on the ground. They are accused of using excessive force.
The arrest was recorded on cellphone video by a passerby.
In a first court appearance on Tuesday afternoon, the two former MPs pleaded not guilty to the indictment. Their attorney, Russell Woods, said his clients deny the allegations.
The third officer seen in the video, Thell Riddle, has not been charged. In October, King and White were fired by Jimmy Damante, the former Crawford County Sheriff.
According to Damante, Worcester, 27, was being questioned for threatening a clerk at a nearby convenience store and attacking an MP. The deputy suffered a concussion, Damante said.
Following the release of the video, the three officers were placed on administrative leave, and state and federal authorities have opened investigations, and the case is still ongoing.
In a federal lawsuit, Randal Worcester accused police and local authorities of violating his constitutional rights during the arrest.
Attorney Rachel Bussett of Worcester expressed relief that the two officers had been arrested.
“Now they’re going to have to go through the court process,” Bassett said.
According to police experts, the video raises red flags over the officers’ actions, stating that blows to the head amount to a potentially lethal use of force.
After his treatment in hospital, Worcester was arrested for second-degree assault and resisting arrest. He was released on $15,000 bail the next day. Worcester’s lawsuit claims he will need medical attention for the rest of his life.
White and King were released on bail on Tuesday. Both men are due in court on April 3.