Jonesboro, AR– Jonesboro Police officer, Joseph Harris has been fired after video reveals attack on detained individual.
WARNING: THIS VIDEO MAY BE DISTURBING TO VIEWERS:
Play-by-Play
New video released by the Jonesboro Police Department shows a detainee claiming he has “Fentanyl inside” of himself. Even going so far to tell the officer that he used the prior night, and that is was wrapped in aluminum foil.
That’s when the suspect, Billy Lee Coram was taken to St. Bernard’s Medical Center where Coram claimed the medical professional didn’t see anything when X-rayed, while he claims he saw something.
Former JPD Officer Harris stayed silent while Coram talked about not using the restroom since being in the hospital.
Coram asked the officer, “Are ya’ll trying to kill me?” The officer stayed silent, until later asked if he believed Coram, where he appeared to answer, “no.”
Coram continued the claim that he had Fentanyl inside of him and that he was telling the officer, so “when” he died in jail it would be “yalls fault,” Coram stated.
Officer Harris then says something, where Coram responds by saying “ya’ll are a f—ing piece of sh–.”
Billy Coram moves around in his seat, appearing to choke himself. The officer stops and begin punching and elbowing the suspect, a sheriffs deputy appears – Harris closes the door on Coram’s head.
Harris opens the door placing his baton on his chest so that Coram would move, and again closed the door on Corams head. And begins to drive again.
Response
The Jonesboro Police Department released a statement on the incident, “Jonesboro Police Department Administration was informed of a complaint about an incident involving a JPD officer that occurred the previous evening. The serious nature of the complaint necessitated prompt action. Following an internal review of the incident, it was determined that the officer involved, Joseph Harris, should be terminated effective immediately.”
Now, questions are being asked as to if charges should be press on the officer or the sheriffs deputy.
Coram is booked in the Craighead County Jail for assisting other agencies and escaping from custody in the third degree, and has a bond of twenty-five-thousand dollars.
Violent Record?
This isn’t the only incident Joseph Harris has had.
In July 2022, a video shows Harris throwing 21 year-old who had a dispute with Harris and another officer nearby at the Midnight Rodeo Private Club in Jonesboro.
At the time, Officer Joseph Harris was suspended for twenty-two hours without pay.
NEA Report, a local news outlet reports that the Federal Bureau of Investigations is investigating.
According to social media there is a planned protest on Main St., next Saturday for the so-called “abuse of power.”
Brookland News has requested more documents and records into this investigation, this is a developing story and will be updates. Check back later for updates.