JOHNSON COUNTY, ARKANSAS, Ark. — A Johnson County detective is under investigation by the Arkansas State Police (ASP) after an alleged "use of force incident," ASP announced on Friday.
ASP said their Special Investigation Unit (SIU) is looking into one Johnson County Detective's use of force on January 26, 2024, but no further details about the incident were immediately available.
The Johnson County investigation was announced alongside a separate investigation covering a different situation where force was used on Dec. 19, 2023, leading to the termination of four Helena-West Helena Police Department officers.
5NEWS reached out to the Johnson County Sheriff's Office, and Sheriff Tom Hughes said he referred the case to Johnson County Prosecuting Attorney Jeff Phillips, who told us he reached out to the Arkansas State Police and asked them to conduct an independent investigation on Feb. 9, 2024.
Phillips told 5NEWS he doesn't have a timeframe on when ASP is expected to conclude the investigation.
Due to the pending investigation, ASP said they couldn't release further clarification on the details of the incident and the identity of the detective.
Sheriff Hughes confirmed that the deputy in question has been fired.
Stay with 5NEWS on this developing story.
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