Arkansas: Three officers suspended after video shows beating

Arkansas State Police have launched an investigation after three local law enforcement officers were seen on video beating a man during an arrest.

One of the officers repeatedly punches the man in the head and bashes his head against the pavement.

State police said the man had been accused of making threats in a shop earlier on Sunday morning.

All three officers have been removed from active duty on paid leave pending an investigation into their conduct.

Police said that when officers confronted the suspect, 27-year-old Randall Worcester, he pushed a deputy to the ground and punched the back of his head, leading to the arrest seen in the video.

Mr Worcester, who was taken to hospital, faces terroristic threatening, resisting arrest, criminal trespass, criminal mischief and assault charges, police said.

A video of the arrest appears to show one officer beating the suspect while another repeatedly knees him in the back. Both are dressed in the uniform of the Crawford County Sheriff's office.

The third officer restrains the man on the ground.

The suspect covers his head with his hands and appears to be trying to roll up into a ball to protect himself.

The officers were identified as Deputy Zack King, Deputy Levi White of the Crawford County Sheriff's office and Mulberry police officer Thell Riddle.

The clip has been viewed millions of times on social media.

A woman who is not seen in the video can be heard saying: "Don't beat him! He needs his medicine!"

One officer responds with an expletive while another orders her to get in her car.

The person who posted the video online said her sister witnessed the altercation in the town of Mulberry.

Crawford County Sheriff Jimmy Damante said his office is "co-operating with all aspects" of the probe launched by the Arkansas State Police and the FBI.

"The conduct that appears in the video that is circulating is not indicative of the Crawford County Sheriff's Department or any law enforcement agency in this area," Mr Damante told reporters on Monday.

"We condemn all violence against any civilian or any person being detained by the sheriff's office," he continued.

In a statement released Sunday evening, Mulberry Police Chief Shannon Gregory said: "The city of Mulberry and the Mulberry police department takes these investigations very seriously."

Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson said on Sunday night on Twitter that the "incident in Crawford County will be investigated pursuant to the video evidence and the request of the prosecuting attorney".