Man arrested by fired Helena-West Helena officers released from jail

Mike Suriani
·2 min read
6

HELENA-WEST HELENA, Ark. — The man arrested by four fired Helena-West Helena officers was released from jail Friday and now has a lawyer.

Little Rock lawyer Luther Sutter is representing Tyler Orr, the West Helena Arkansas man at the center of alleged police misconduct involving four recently terminated Helena-West Helena police officers.

Four Helena-West Helena police officers fired, chief says

Sutter was in West Helena Friday meeting with his client and came to the Phillips County Justice Complex attempting to get body cam video from Orr’s arrest in 2023.

“I anticipate I’ll be forced to sue to get the video footage and I’m prepared to do that Monday,” Sutter said.

Orr was arrested on December 19  after allegedly assaulting his mother and then taking her vehicle without permission.

Police located the vehicle with Orr inside. There were four officers on the scene and, according to the City Attorney, there was a use of force involved.

Sutter says his client’s intake picture confirms that.

“At one point they removed my client from the back of the police car, only to have him pepper sprayed three times,” Sutter said.

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After reviewing body cam footage Chief Vincent Bell determined the officer’s actions warranted the immediate termination of all four, three men and one woman, for failing to follow HWHPD’s policies.

Orr was released Friday and now Sutter says he may file a civil rights lawsuit.

“This isn’t a defense, this is an offense,” Sutter said. “At the end of the day, police officers are to protect and serve, not arrest and beat.”

The body cam footage in question is reportedly being forwarded to the Arkansas State Police for a criminal review.

The Helena-West Helena City Attorney did not return our call for comment. The mayor was not available for comment either.

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