Little Rock Police Officer Suspended in 2011 Incident
By: KARK 4 News
Updated: November 9, 2012
An officer with the Little Rock Police Department (LRPD) has been suspended without pay over a 2011 incident that left a man injured who he was trying to arrest.
Lt. David Hudson's suspension letter was released to KARK 4 News today. It was delivered to him on Wednesday.
It states that he is suspended 30 days without pay effective Monday and will return to work on December 12th.
The suspension letter cites the following reason:
"you violated..sections of the General Orders and Rules and Regulations on October 29, 2011, when the type and degree of force you used during the arrest of Chris Erwin exceeded the force which was reasonable and necessary."
Hudson has 10 days to make an appeal.
The incident in question was caught on cell phone video, showing Hudson repeatedly hitting Erwin in the face outside the restaurant, Ferneau, which has since been renamed.
Back in February, the Arkansas Supreme Court agreed with a lower court ruling in its decision that making Hudson's service records open was subject to the Freedom of Information Act.
Erwin's attorney, Keith Hall, had asked the LRPD for Hudson's use-of-force records, to aide in the defense of his client, but had been denied. Police Chief Stuart Thomas and the city argued the documents were part of Hudson's personnel record and not subject to FOI.
Erwin was charged with criminal trespass, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest in the incident. All of those charges were later dropped by the LRPD.
Continuing Coverage:
Lt. David Hudson's suspension letter was released to KARK 4 News today. It was delivered to him on Wednesday.
It states that he is suspended 30 days without pay effective Monday and will return to work on December 12th.
The suspension letter cites the following reason:
"you violated..sections of the General Orders and Rules and Regulations on October 29, 2011, when the type and degree of force you used during the arrest of Chris Erwin exceeded the force which was reasonable and necessary."
Hudson has 10 days to make an appeal.
The incident in question was caught on cell phone video, showing Hudson repeatedly hitting Erwin in the face outside the restaurant, Ferneau, which has since been renamed.
Back in February, the Arkansas Supreme Court agreed with a lower court ruling in its decision that making Hudson's service records open was subject to the Freedom of Information Act.
Erwin's attorney, Keith Hall, had asked the LRPD for Hudson's use-of-force records, to aide in the defense of his client, but had been denied. Police Chief Stuart Thomas and the city argued the documents were part of Hudson's personnel record and not subject to FOI.
Erwin was charged with criminal trespass, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest in the incident. All of those charges were later dropped by the LRPD.
Continuing Coverage:
