Special prosecutor appointed in Crawford County violent arrest
GOOD EVENING, I’M ALLISON WISE. A FEDERAL LAWSUIT HAS NOW BEEN FILED AGAINST CRAWFORD COUNTY DEPUTIES AND MULBERRY POLICE OVER THE AMOUNT OF FORCE THAT WAS USED TO ARREST A MAN. THE VIDEO OF THAT ARREST MAY BE DISTURBING TO SOME VIEWERS. 40/29’S BRETT RAINS REPORTS WITH MORE ON THE LAWSUIT AND WHY THE STATE IS ASKING FOR A SPECIAL PROSECUTOR. <NOTHING 148-158> <BRETT> “ACCORDING TO THE 23 PAGE LAWSUIT FILED HERE IN FEDERAL COURT, ATTORNEYS SAY THE AMOUNT OF FORCE USED TO ARREST DANIEL WORCESTER WAS EXCESSIVE. WE’VE ALSO LEARNED THE CRAWFORD COUNTY PROSECUTOR HAS ASKED TO BE REMOVED FROM THE CASE DUE TO A POTENTIAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST.” <ADAM ROSE – ATTORNEY REPRESENT RANDAL WORCESTER> “we believe that this is a pattern that has been going on for quite a while. This was just one of the first ones that we’ve been able to see that got released that was a video that someone got to video and that was released to the public.” ADAM ROSE IS ONE OF THE ATTORNEYS REPRESENTING RANDAL WORCESTER. THE CIVIL LAWSUIT, FILED MONDAY IN FEDERAL COURT, IS ASKING FOR AN UNSPECIFIED AMOUNT OF MONEY FROM THE CRAWFORD COUNTY SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT, THE SHERIFF, TWO DEPUTIES, THE MULBERRY POLICE CHIEF AND A MULBERRY POLICE OFFICER AFTER WORCESTER WAS SEEN BEING BEATEN IN THIS VIDEO THAT WITNESSES POSTED TO FACEBOOK ON AUGUST 21ST. IT SHOWS CRAWFORD COUNTY DEPUTIES LEVI WHITE AND ZACK KING REPEATEDLY HITTING AND KNEEING WORCESTER. MULBERRY POLICE OFFICER THELL RIDDLE IS HOLDING HIM DOWN AND DID NOT STOP IT. (NATS…PERSON SAYS “THIS IS BAD”) (NATS…PERSON SAYS “WE GOT TO GET OUT OF HERE.”) THE SHERIFF SAID WORCESTER THREATENED A GAS STATION CLERK IN ALMA WITH A KNIFE AND THEN TACKLED ONE OF THE DEPUTIES AS THEY TRIED TO ARREST HIM A FEW MILES AWAY IN MULBERRY. HE WAS UNARMED AT THAT POINT. THIS SURVEILLANCE VIDEO FROM THE KOUNTRY EXPRESS GAS STATION IN MULBERRY SHOWS MORE OF WHAT HAPPENED BEFORE WITNESSES RECORDED THE FACEBOOK VIDEO. <ADAM ROSE – ATTORNEY REPRESENT RANDAL WORCESTER> “he did push one of the officers. It’s clear to the officers that he’s not armed at that time. So they’re facing about a 130 pound 27 year old man.” “I don’t believe anyone will see that happen and still think slamming his face on the ground, kicking, punching him while he’s on the ground, is at all proportionate to what they were facing at that moment.” ROSE SAYS WORCESTER RECEIVED A CONCUSSION AND THAT HIS HEAD INJURIES WILL LAST A LIFETIME. THE ATTORNEY WHO REPRESENTS THE TWO DEPUTIES SAYS HE HAS NOT SEEN THE LAWSUIT, BUT THAT QUOTE – EVEN VIOLENT FELONS HAVE THE RIGHT TO FILE A LAWSUIT, AND THAT HE WILL DEFEND HIS CLIENTS. WORCESTER IS FACING NUMEROUS CHARGES INCLUDING ASSAULT, BATTERY AND RESISTING ARREST, BUT CURRENTLY HE’S NOT BEEN OFFICIALLY CHARGED WITH ANYTHING. ACCORDING TO MOTIONS FILED IN CRAWFORD COUNTY COURT, PROSECUTOR RINDA BAKER REQUESTED A SPECIAL PROSECUTOR TO HANDLE ANY POTENTIAL CHARGES AGAINST WORCESTER AND LAW ENFORCEMENT INVOLVED IN THE ARREST, IN ORDER TO AVOID AN ETHICAL CONFLICT. <ADAM ROSE – ATTORNEY REPRESENT RANDAL WORCESTER> “she has a relationship with these officers, she has a relationship with these departments. And to kind of shed that potential interest is a good thing to do, I think it was the right call.” <BRETT> “AS OF NOW THE SHERIFF AND MULBERRY POLICE CHIEF ARE NOT COMMENTING ABOUT THE FEDERAL LAWSUIT WORCESTER’S ATTORNEY SAY
Special prosecutor appointed in Crawford County violent arrest
Updated: 6:35 PM CDT Aug 30, 2022
A special prosecutor has been appointed to handle any use of force investigation into a violent arrest in Crawford County.Randal Worcester was arrested on Aug. 21. A video posted to Facebook shows officers punching Worcester on the sidewalk outside Kountry Xpress near Mulberry.Crawford County prosecuting attorney Rinda Baker says Emily White will oversee the process and determine if criminal charges should be filed. Baker also told 40/29 News that a special prosecutor has been requested for potential criminal charges against Worcester.
A special prosecutor has been appointed to handle any use of force investigation into a violent arrest in Crawford County.
Randal Worcester was arrested on Aug. 21. A video posted to Facebook shows officers punching Worcester on the sidewalk outside Kountry Xpress near Mulberry.
Crawford County prosecuting attorney Rinda Baker says Emily White will oversee the process and determine if criminal charges should be filed.
Baker also told 40/29 News that a special prosecutor has been requested for potential criminal charges against Worcester.
