Two former deputies from Crawford County, Arkansas, have been sentenced for their roles in a violent assault on a man they arrested. Levi White, aged 34, received a 63-month prison sentence, while Zackary King, aged 28, was sentenced to 12 months.
Both individuals pleaded guilty to one count of deprivation of rights under color of law related to the assault on R.W., a 26-year-old man. The incident occurred on August 21, 2022, when White, King, and another officer confronted R.W. at a gas station parking lot during an investigation into threats against a store attendant. After R.W. lunged at White and tackled him, the officers subdued him. Despite this, White proceeded to punch R.W. multiple times in the head and slammed his head into the pavement. King kicked R.W. in the back and struck him once in the midsection.
Following the announcement of a federal investigation into their actions, White attempted to obstruct justice by erasing data from his county-issued phone and selectively deleting text messages about the incident from his personal phone. He also asked King if he intended to do the same; however, King declined.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division stated: “Punching a man in the head, slamming their head repeatedly on the concrete pavement, kicking them in the back and striking them in the midsection — this kind of gratuitous and unjustified violence at the hands of law enforcement runs contrary to the oath that officers take in our country to protect and serve.” She emphasized that both defendants violated their oath by abusing their power as law enforcement officers.
Special Agent in Charge Alicia D. Corder of the FBI Little Rock Field Office commented: “Levi White and Zackary King’s sentencings prove that no law enforcement officer is above the law.” She reaffirmed that investigations into potential abuses will continue with cooperation between FBI Little Rock and Arkansas State Police.
The case was investigated by both FBI Little Rock Field Office and Arkansas State Police. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dustin Roberts and Devon Still for the Western District of Arkansas along with Special Litigation Counsel Michael J. Songer and Trial Attorneys Lia Rettammel and Anna Gotfryd from the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.