An Arkansas police chief has shamefully resigned simply 13 days into his new gig for slapping a person in a wheelchair and placing him in a headlock throughout a heated, caught-on-camera confrontation.
Osceola Police Chief Robert Ephlin handed over his letter of resignation to Mayor Joe Harris Jr. on Wednesday after viral footage of the alleged assault surfaced, WREG reported.
The viral video allegedly confirmed Ephlin standing over Danarius Williams after police have been known as to the Hyatt Residences in Osceola following stories that Williams’ son and spouse had been threatened by an armed particular person.
Williams admitted that he advised the previous chief to “‘get your F–king arms off me, get your finger up out of my face,’” as tensions rose between the pair throughout the encounter.
“I didn’t contact him. I didn’t hit him,” Williams mentioned.
The footage then exhibits Ephlin warning Williams earlier than a slap is heard, inflicting Williams’ head to jerk to the facet as onlookers react in anger. Seconds later, Ephlin allegedly positioned Williams in a headlock as bystanders screamed for him to cease.
“He smacked me, he smacked the hell out of me, after which choked me. You got here behind me in a chair,” Williams mentioned. “I’m a paraplegic, can’t really feel something, can’t do something from the stomach button down.”
Williams advised Fox 13 Memphis he was taken to the hospital and handled for minor accidents, however mentioned the emotional impression of the incident on him and his household has been much more vital.
“I most positively thought he might have choked me to dying,” Williams mentioned. “I can’t do something … I can’t run from you. I can’t get away.”
In his resignation letter on Monday, Ephlin, who was sworn in on March 26, mentioned it was an “honor” to guide the division, however that stepping down was the “smartest thing for me and my household.”
Mayor Harris Jr. expressed his fury when he first noticed the footage of the viral incident.
“It pissed me off. I’m going to simply say it, it did,” Harris mentioned, WMC reported.
Whereas Harris made clear he doesn’t condone Ephlin’s actions, he insisted the habits captured on video doesn’t mirror the person he is aware of personally.
“When I noticed the video I mentioned ‘oh hell,’ as a result of it actually shocked me as a result of Bobby Ephlin is not that sort of particular person,” Harris advised WREG.
The Mayor mentioned in Ephlin’s quick time serving the group, he made an actual distinction.
“All people is aware of it was improper however being Ephlin we all know that’s not him. He’s on the faculty each week, working with the youngsters, doing issues. It simply wasn’t him,” he mentioned.
Harris added that he’s dedicated to making sure the group isn’t remembered for the previous chief’s actions.
“We’re one of the crucial affluent cities on the Mississippi River presently and so we aren’t going to again down and provides the improper look,” Harris mentioned. “We’re going to maintain our head up and transfer ahead.”
Within the wake of Ephlin’s resignation, Harris appointed Wells Scaggs as interim Chief of Police and known as for an impartial assessment of the incident by an out of doors company.
