Three Jailers Fired for Using Excessive Force on Inmate

Three Benton County jailers were fired for using excessive force on an inmate, and their actions were caught on camera.

Benton County Sheriff Kelley Cradduck said an inmate was ignoring commands while being booked into the jail. Cradduck said three jailers decided to bumrush the inmate's cell and forced him to the ground using a double straight arm bar takedown.

"They sat on his back for several minutes, trying to get his name. That's not how we get information out of people. We don't torture people to get information," said Cradduck.

Cradduck said the jailers then put the inmate in a full-body restraint, but the inmate was uncooperative and managed to free one leg.

"They pepper sprayed him very close to his face and his eyes and burned his retina."  According to an incident report, the jailers also used a taser to subdue the inmate.

After watching the video, an internal investigation was launched. Sheriff Cradduck said the findings led him to take immediate action, so he fired the three employees involved and suspended a fourth.

"Not only did it violate current policy, it violates the culture that we want to have back in the jail... It's unfortunate because the overwhelming majority of those 120 people that work in that jail everyday do great things, and this will be something that will cause some negative attention to otherwise great people."

Cradduck said the inmate was ultimately transferred to Ozark Guidance because of mental issues.

"Sometimes these individuals don't really realize what they're doing, what we want them to do, and how to accomplish that. It's our job to make sure that we do that in the most humane way."