A TikTok video screengrab shows law enforcement officers punching and kneeing a man identified as Randal Ray Worcester.
Two sheriff’s deputies pleaded guilty to violating a man’s federal civil rights for using excessive force on a suspect they had contained, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Western District of Arkansas.
The incident occurred on Aug. 21, 2022, and involved Crawford County Sheriff’s Deputy Zackary King and Deputy Levi White. They were responding a call about a man who had been threatening toward a clerk at Kountry Xpress gas station. King and White arrived and found the suspect, Randal Worcester II, sitting on a curb, according to the plea agreement.
Worcester reportedly cooperated with the deputies at first, giving them a razor blade he had on him. King walked away, but then Worcester allegedly lunged at White and tackled him. King, White, and another police officer were able to pin Worcester to the ground. With Worcester subdued, King kneed Worcester in the legs several times. King then kicked Worcester in back and punched him in the midsection, despite the fact that he was subdued, according to prosecutors.
“These uses of force were unreasonable and unnecessary,” prosecutors wrote.
Meanwhile, White punched Worcester “at least 9 times in the head” and then lifted the suspect’s head and “slammed it in the pavement.” King told a woman who was filming the incident to “back the f— up,” prosecutors said.
Deputies then took Worcester, who had visible injuries to his face and head, to jail.
Randal Ray Worcester appears in an Aug. 21, 2022 Crawford County, Arkansas jail booking photo.
After seeing the incident on video and realizing that it didn’t look good, King did a factory reset on his phone, which is a violation of agency policy, according to prosecutors.
As part of the deal, both defendants agree not to work in law enforcement again.
The video of the incident was posted to social media and went viral. White and King were fired.
“The defendants swore an oath to uphold the law, then violated that oath and abused their power by assaulting a person who was pinned to the ground and not resisting,” Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division said in a statement.
A sentencing date has yet to be set for the two former cops. White faces up to 10 years in prison, three years of probation, and a $250,000 fine. King faces a maximum penalty of one year in prison, one year of supervised release, and a fine of up to $100,000.
— Naomi Johnson (@NaomiRHelm) August 22, 2022
“Disgraceful actions, like those of the two Crawford County sheriff’s deputies, negatively impact all members of Arkansas law enforcement,” said FBI Little Rock Special Agent in Charge Alicia D. Corder. “A gun and a badge does not give someone the right to ignore the Constitution.”
Worcester filed a $75,000 federal civil rights lawsuit, which remains ongoing.
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