Officer Fired After Assaulting Handcuffed Inmate

Officer Joseph Harris of the Jonesboro Police Department in Arkansas was terminated after video footage surfaced showing him violently assaulting a handcuffed inmate, Billy Lee Coram, in the back of a patrol car. The incident, which occurred on August 12, 2024, involved Harris punching and elbowing Coram, who was in distress and wearing a hospital gown after claiming he had ingested fentanyl. The police chief, Rick Elliott, emphasized the seriousness of the incident and stated that it warranted immediate action, leading to Harris's firing the following day. The case has been referred to local prosecutors for potential criminal charges, and the FBI has been notified. The department released the video to ensure transparency and address public outrage, with Elliott asserting that