An Arkansas police officer named Joseph Harris was fired after a video surfaced showing him allegedly beating a man who was handcuffed and sitting in the back of a patrol car. The Jonesboro Police Department received a complaint about the incident and conducted an internal review, leading to Harris’ termination. The incident took place in Jonesboro, Arkansas, which is located about 70 miles from Memphis, Tennessee. Jonesboro police chief Rick Elliott stated that he had been in communication with the FBI, and the Little Rock office had opened a case regarding the incident.
In the video posted online by the Jonesboro Police Department, the man can be heard saying he had swallowed a bag of fentanyl the day before and needed to be taken to a hospital. Harris was seen punching and elbowing the man’s head repeatedly, while another officer checked on the man’s well-being but received no response after the assault. The man was then roughly treated with a tool before the car began to drive away.
Harris had previously faced consequences for using excessive force, receiving a suspension without pay and additional training from the police department about two years ago. Additionally, he had been named in a wrongful death lawsuit filed in June. The incident involving Harris highlights the ongoing issue of police brutality and excessive force, sparking outrage and calls for accountability within law enforcement agencies.
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