Arkansas Officer Fired for Beating Handcuffed Detainee in Patrol Car Video

An officer from the Jonesboro Police Department in Arkansas has been terminated after video footage surfaced showing him violently assaulting a handcuffed man in the back of a patrol car. In the shocking video, Officer Joseph Tucker Harris can be seen punching the detainee, Billy Lee Coram, in the face, forcefully hitting him on the head with a car door, and using a metal baton in a brutal manner.

The incident took place on August 8 and was made public on Friday by the police department. The footage reveals Harris returning to the patrol vehicle, where he aggressively opens the door, drives a metal baton into Coram’s sternum, and continues the assault after Coram loses consciousness. The 42-year-old, dressed in a hospital gown, is seen writhing in pain, a situation further exacerbated by his earlier attempt to choke himself with his seatbelt.

Following the release of this distressing video, the Jonesboro Police Department announced on August 9 that it had received a complaint about the incident, prompting an immediate internal review. The department concluded that Officer Harris’s actions warranted immediate termination.

Jonesboro Police Chief Rick Elliott addressed the situation, stating that Harris’s conduct was “unbecoming” and “unprofessional.” Elliott emphasized that such behavior will not be tolerated, asserting that there was no consideration or pause in Harris’s immediate response during the incident.

On Monday, Elliott met with community leaders at New Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church as part of an engagement organized by the Craighead County NAACP. This meeting aimed to address community concerns and reinforce trust in local law enforcement.

Billy Lee Coram had been in custody at the Craighead County Jail since August 7 on felony escape charges stemming from an earlier situation. Reports indicate that on the following day, Coram claimed to have ingested fentanyl, which led to his hospitalization. After being treated, he allegedly fled the medical facility, prompting a search. Officer Harris apprehended him shortly after and was escorting him back to jail when the incident escalated into violence.

Chief Elliott expressed his shock upon viewing the footage, stating it left him “shocked and appalled.” He asserted that the wrongdoing was indisputable, indicating there is no need for further investigation into Harris’s conduct.

Additionally, Elliott has pursued legal action by referring the case to local prosecutors and notifying the FBI. He aims to advance measures to have Harris decertified, ensuring he does not return to law enforcement in the future.

This incident is not Harris’s first encounter with controversy. In July 2022, he faced a brief suspension for an incident involving excessive force when he slammed a man to the ground outside a nightclub. Following that instance, he was mandated to undergo enhanced training in de-escalation practices and the appropriate application of force.

Furthermore, Harris is implicated in a wrongful death lawsuit concerning a separate incident involving Brock Tyner, a mentally ill man who pleaded for assistance while in custody. The lawsuit alleges that Tyner’s cries for help, including desperate pleas as he banged his head against the squad car window, went ignored and resulted in his death after being taken to jail rather than receiving immediate medical assistance.

The Tyner family’s lawsuit seeks at least $1 million in damages and requests a jury trial, highlighting the potential systemic failings that may have led to Tyner’s demise. As of now, there has been no public response from Harris regarding these allegations, as he does not have a publicly listed phone number.

Billy Lee Coram is scheduled to appear in court again on September 27.

Source: Various sources