Arkansas State Patrol officer pulls hair and punches passenger during arrest

A video released by local media shows an Arkansas State Police officer forcibly removing a vehicle passenger during an arrest, pulling the individual by his hair and delivering a punch to his face. The clip, captured by a bystander on a highway in northwest Arkansas, appears to document the officer’s actions as the suspect was being placed in a patrol vehicle on Tuesday evening.

State Police officials confirmed that the officer involved has been placed on administrative leave pending an internal investigation and that the department is reviewing the footage in accordance with its use‑of‑force policy. The Arkansas State Police Public Affairs Office said the agency will cooperate with any external inquiries and that appropriate disciplinary measures will be taken if the investigation determines misconduct. The incident has prompted calls for transparency from community leaders, while the department has not yet released a statement from the officer or identified the passenger.