An inmate from Arkansas who was subjected to violence by a police officer while in the back of a patrol car has taken legal action against the former officer and police chief, alleging a violation of his constitutional rights. The lawsuit was filed by attorneys representing Billy Lee Coram against former Jonesboro police officer Joseph Harris, Jonesboro Police Chief Rick Elliott, and the city of Jonesboro following an incident on August 8. Harris was recorded on his patrol car camera punching, elbowing, and slamming a car door against Coram, who was being transferred from a local hospital back to the county jail.
In a news release, Michael Kiel Kaiser, along with attorney Mike Laux, expressed that “No matter what Mr. Coram has allegedly done, under no circumstance is the violent rage inflicted on him by Officer Harris ever acceptable.” The lawsuit highlighted that Chief of Police Rick Elliott was aware of Officer Harris’s aggressive tendencies but allowed him to continue serving, labeling him as a ticking time bomb that eventually exploded.
Jonesboro Police publicly released the video of the incident, and Harris was terminated from his position in August. Chief Elliott mentioned reviewing the footage after receiving a complaint from the county sheriff’s office regarding the mistreatment. As of now, there has been no response from Elliott in regards to requests for comment, and the city attorney refrained from commenting on ongoing litigation.
The video footage displays Coram, dressed in a hospital gown, attempting to harm himself by choking with a seatbelt during the car journey. Upon stopping the car, Harris assaulted Coram by punching and elbowing him in the face before forcefully shutting the car door against his head. The lawsuit indicated that Coram had ingested a bag of fentanyl, prompting his visit to the hospital, and his actions in the patrol car were an attempt to dislodge the purported drug still in his system.
Coram expressed his fear during the ordeal, stating that he felt his life was in danger, and described Officer Harris as exceptionally brutal in his actions. Elliott has since passed the case for review to local prosecutors, although there has been no response from the Craighead County prosecutor yet. The lawsuit accused Elliott of being aware of Harris’s history of excessive force and threats towards citizens, citing a past incident at a nightclub where Harris allegedly used excessive force during an arrest in 2022.
In a statement released by his attorneys, Coram mentioned being in constant pain due to the assault. Currently detained in the Poinsett County jail on an escape charge, a court date for Coram has not been scheduled.
