Jonesboro, AR – Through a Freedom of Information Request, Brookland News obtained new documents of Joseph Harris’ personal records revealing new information about the attack on an inmate and past incidents.
After many days of waiting, as Sally Smith, communication specialist at the Jonesboro Police Department says was to give Harris the time to receive an opinion from the Attorney General before releasing records.
New documents show that a deputy reported him. The document stated that the Criaghead County Sherrifs Department had received information from “Deputy Ditto” about “force Harris used against Corman [Billy Lee Coram, the inmate] during a prisoner transport.” That report was written by Captain Stephen McDaniel, after Deputy Ditto had reported the incident.
That document also says that once at the Craighead County Jail — where Corma was booked — Harris could be seen on Deputy Ditto’s bodycam attempting to strike Coram after Coram moved towards him.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Brookland News is working to request that bodycam footage from Deputy Ditto.
Now, as Brookland News reported earlier, Joseph Harris has a record of misconduct, and those new documents released show that.
In a citizen complaint form, a citizen of Jonesboro said that Harris harassed them. “He walked up to my car and told me to get out, I asked him what I was stopped for, he said he would tell me once I get out. I told him I wasn’t getting out of my car. He kept telling me to get out, I refused,” the citizen went on, “this officer pulled out his weapon, I was no threat.”
The complaint is below:
In July of 2022, Harris was suspended for twenty hours after video showed him throwing a person to the ground after a dispute.
The past and present of Joseph Harris surfaced after video released by the Jonesboro Police Dpeartment showed at the time, Officer Harris attacking Billy Lee Coram who was jailed.
SIMILAR NEWS
In the video, moments before the attack, it shows Billy Coram moving around in his seat, appearing to choke himself. The officer stops and begins 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.
Since the attack, Harris was fired from the Jonesboro Police Department and has not made a public comment.