The Mulberry police officer under investigation over a violent arrest attended the city Christmas party Monday night and was given a certificate by the mayor.Officer Thell Riddle was placed on paid suspension earlier this year because of his involvement in a violent arrest outside a Mulberry gas station in Aug. 2022.Surveillance and witness Facebook video shows the violent arrest of Randal Worcester outside the Kountry Xpress gas station.It shows two Crawford County deputies repeatedly hit and knee Worcester’s head and body while Riddle holds him down. All three members of law enforcement were placed on paid leave while Arkansas State Police investigate the use of force.The two deputies were fired in August.”I, like many of you, was shocked and sickened by what I saw,” Mulberry Mayor Gary Baxter said on Aug. 21, 2022.Baxter gave Riddle a certificate at the Christmas party on Dec. 12, 2022.”We are very confused why the mayor would give the man an acclamation in such a public manner, which would seem to contradict them wanting to wait until the investigation was finished before they make any formal decision about Riddle’s employment,” Eli Clardy, who lives in Mulberry, said.Baxter told 40/29 News he gave all city employees a certificate of appreciation.Larry Copeland, who lives in Mulberry, thinks Riddle deserves the certificate.”I thought they should have been recognized,” Copeland said. “That he didn’t do anything wrong. He just held the guy down, he wasn’t kicking him or hitting him.”
The Mulberry police officer under investigation over a violent arrest attended the city Christmas party Monday night and was given a certificate by the mayor.
Officer Thell Riddle was placed on paid suspension earlier this year because of his involvement in a violent arrest outside a Mulberry gas station in Aug. 2022.
Surveillance and witness Facebook video shows the violent arrest of Randal Worcester outside the Kountry Xpress gas station.
It shows two Crawford County deputies repeatedly hit and knee Worcester’s head and body while Riddle holds him down. All three members of law enforcement were placed on paid leave while Arkansas State Police investigate the use of force.
The two deputies were fired in August.
“I, like many of you, was shocked and sickened by what I saw,” Mulberry Mayor Gary Baxter said on Aug. 21, 2022.
Baxter gave Riddle a certificate at the Christmas party on Dec. 12, 2022.
“We are very confused why the mayor would give the man an acclamation in such a public manner, which would seem to contradict them wanting to wait until the investigation was finished before they make any formal decision about Riddle’s employment,” Eli Clardy, who lives in Mulberry, said.
Baxter told 40/29 News he gave all city employees a certificate of appreciation.
Larry Copeland, who lives in Mulberry, thinks Riddle deserves the certificate.
“I thought they should have been recognized,” Copeland said. “That he didn’t do anything wrong. He just held the guy down, he wasn’t kicking him or hitting him.”
