NEW VIDEO: Fired police officer beat inmate in prison before officers intervened

JONESBORO, Arkansas – A newly obtained video shows the events of Aug. 8 in Jonesboro involving former police officer Joseph Harris and inmate Billy Coram from the perspective of the deputy who eventually charged Harris with excessive use of force.

NEA Report obtained the video on Tuesday, August 20, through a Freedom of Information Act request to the Attorney General's Office. The video begins with Deputy Ditto walking toward Harris as he repeatedly punches Coram in the back seat of his patrol car. The deputy asks what's going on and Harris responds that Coram was trying to strangle himself. By the time the deputy reaches the other side of the vehicle, Harris has finished punching Coram and slams the door in his face.

The deputy returns to the other side of Harris' cruiser. Harris aggressively rams his baton into Coram's sternum, causing him to cry out in pain. Harris then slams the door on Coram's head a second time.

When they arrive at the jail, Coram's head is still stuck between the door and the seat. Ditto opens the door to release him. However, Coram is angry. He repeats that he was attacked by Harris and is injured. As they escort him to the booking area, Harris strikes Coram again over the officers' heads.

“He stopped while I was handcuffed and hit me on my damn head,” Coram said.

After restraining Coram in a restraint chair for several minutes, Deputy Ditto leaves the booking area and observes a conversation between Harris and another correctional officer. Harris claims he hit Coram because he was trying to strangle himself. Harris mentions tensions between the JPD and the Sheriff's Department.

In a conversation at about 13:30 in the video, Deputy Ditto is seen informing another deputy about how Harris repeatedly struck Coram and how Harris attempted to strike him again in the warning area.

As officers and prison guards try to calm Coram, who still fears he is dying from a fentanyl overdose, the video ends.

Both the Arkansas State Police and the FBI office in Little Rock are investigating the excessive use of force evident in the video and observed by Deputy Ditto.

NEA Report has filed several additional Freedom of Information Act requests with the Craighead County Sheriff's Office, which are expected to be fulfilled on Wednesday. Check back later for more.

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