Two former sheriff’s deputies from Crawford County, Arkansas, faced justice for their violent and unwarranted assault on a man in their custody. Levi White received a 63-month prison sentence, while Zackary King was sentenced to 12 months.
The incident, captured on video, unfolded in August 2022 when the deputies confronted a man, identified as R.W., in a gas station parking lot. After a brief struggle, R.W. was subdued and pinned to the ground by three officers.
Despite posing no further threat, White proceeded to punch R.W. repeatedly in the head and slam his head into the pavement. King also participated in the assault, kicking R.W. and striking him in the midsection.
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“Punching a man in the head, slamming their head repeatedly on the concrete pavement, kicking them in the back and striking them in the midsection — this kind of gratuitous and unjustified violence at the hands of law enforcement runs contrary to the oath that officers take in our country to protect and serve,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The defendants swore an oath to uphold the law, then violated that oath and abused their power as law enforcement officers by assaulting a person in their custody. At the time of the assaults, three officers had already subdued the victim, and further force was unnecessary and unlawful. White added fuel to the fire by taking steps to obstruct the investigation into the violent assault. The Justice Department will continue to vigorously prosecute officers who abuse their authority and violate the rights of people in their custody.”
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“Levi White and Zackary King’s sentencings prove that no law enforcement officer is above the law,” said Special Agent in Charge Alicia D. Corder of the FBI Little Rock Field Office. “FBI Little Rock, alongside our trusted partners at Arkansas State Police, will continue to investigate potential abuses of power and civil rights violations throughout our state. We encourage anyone who has information about abusive or corrupt law enforcement to contact the FBI’s ArkTrust Task Force immediately.”
The FBI Little Rock Field Office and Arkansas State Police investigated the case.
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