An Arkansas police chief has stepped down after only 13 days in office, following accusations of physical assault on a man in a wheelchair during a confrontation that was caught on video.
Robert Eflin, the Osceola Police Chief, submitted his resignation to Mayor Joe Harris Jr. after a video of the incident gained significant attention. Reports indicate that Eflin was seen standing over Danarius Williams at the Hyatt Apartments in Osceola, where police were called on reports that Williams’ family was threatened by an armed individual.
Williams recounted how emotions flared during the interaction, prompting him to tell Eflin to “get your hands off me and put your fingers out of my face.” He insisted that he hadn’t struck Eflin in any way.
In the video, viewers can hear a slap before Williams’ head turns sharply to the side, sparking visible outrage among bystanders. Shortly after, Eflin allegedly put Williams in a headlock, despite shouts from onlookers for him to cease his actions.
“He hit me really hard, and then strangled me. I’m paralyzed and can’t feel anything from the belly button down,” Williams stated. He was later treated for minor injuries at a hospital but emphasized that the psychological effects were far worse.
Williams expressed concern, stating, “I definitely thought he could have strangled me.” His physical limitations added to his sense of vulnerability during the altercation.
In his resignation letter, Eflin expressed gratitude for the opportunity to lead the Osceola police, but ultimately decided that resigning was the best course for himself and his family.
Mayor Harris Jr. reacted with anger after viewing the footage. He mentioned, “It made me angry. I’ll just say it actually happened,” while also emphasizing that the actions displayed were not representative of Eflin’s character.
Harris, having known Eflin personally, seemed taken aback, saying, “I was really surprised because Bobby Eflin is not that kind of person.” He recognized the positive impact Eflin had made in a short time.
Despite the incident, the mayor insisted there would be efforts to ensure Eflin’s actions wouldn’t overshadow the community’s progress. “We’re one of the most prosperous cities in the Mississippi River Basin right now, so we’re not going to back down or look the other way,” Harris declared. “We will move forward with pride.”
After Eflin’s resignation, Harris appointed Wells Skaggs as the interim police chief and called for an independent investigation into the matter.
