Three American police officers suspended after a video emerged showing them violently beating a man on the ground

Three American police officers have been suspended after images online showed them violently beating a man during an arrest in Arkansas (south), authorities announced on the evening of Sunday August 21.

In the video, which sparked outrage on social media, officers hold down a white man, punching him hard in the head, kicking his legs with knees, and slamming his face against the concrete floor. ” It’s serious “, says a person off camera. When passersby try to approach the police, one of them orders them to stay away.

Crawford sheriff dept Arkansas https://t.co/KZAmwzwwmV

— NaomiRHelm (@Naomi Johnson)

Videos showing police violence, often against African Americans, regularly make headlines in the United States, a country marked by the murder of george floyd under the knee of a police officer in May 2020.

Read the analysis (in 2021): Article reserved for our subscribers A year after the murder of George Floyd, racial equality remains to be conquered in the United States

One of the police officers placed on “administrative leave”

“Like many of you, I was shocked and sickened by what I saw”said Gary Baxter, the mayor of the city where the video was filmed, Mulberry, in a communicated announcing that one of the police officers had been placed in “administrative leave”, pending the results of an investigation. The other two officers, who work for Crawford County, have also been suspended, with the sheriff promising he would take “appropriate measures”.

The violent arrest occurred around 10:40 a.m. Sunday (5:40 p.m. in Paris) outside a grocery store, according to Arkansas State Police, which has opened an investigation into “use of force” by the police.

Randall Worcester, 27, the victim, was transported to a hospital before being imprisoned, according to the same source. He is the subject of several counts, including refusing to comply, resisting arrest and assault.

The suspect is accused of threatening a gas station worker who called police, Crawford County Sheriff Jimmy Damante told local 40/29. Randall Worcester was cooperative at first, before becoming violent and trying to attack the police, Mr Damante said.

The state’s Republican Governor, Asa Hutchinson, said on Twitter having spoken with the chief of the police of the State, assuring that the facts would be the subject of“an investigation in accordance with the video evidence and the request of the prosecutor”.

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The World with AFP