Attorney James W. Harris of Blytheville said in a press release he has filed a civil rights lawsuit against the City of Blytheville, the Blytheville police chief, and a Blytheville police officer for what he says was excessive force against a man in a July 4 incident.
At 5 p.m. Thursday, Blytheville Police Chief Ross Thompson said he had not been served and he is not aware of any city official who had been served in the case.
Harris' press release said the lawsuit says, that on July 4, the officer, a Caucasian, responded to a call at the Blytheville home of his client, Chardrick Mitchell, an African-American.
He said video evidence from the officer's body camera revealed that Mitchell refused to let his girlfriend inside his home to retrieve belongings.
"The officer told Mitchell that if he did not comply, the officer would charge him with 'obstruction,"' Harris wrote in a press release. "Mitchell then turned around to walk toward the front door of the home, at which point the officer shot Mitchell in the back with his service taser. After Mitchell fell to the ground, the officer continued to shock him with the taser."
Harris said that at no point prior to deploying the taser did the officer ever tell Mitchell he was under arrest.
"It was only after shooting Mitchell with the taser did the officer tell Mitchell that he was under arrest," the attorney said. "The entire episode was recorded on the officer's body camera." Harris said that the officer's written report does not match the video evidence.
Blytheville police charged Mitchell with obstruction of justice, disorderly conduct, and refusal to submit to arrest. Harris said he looks forward to defending Mitchell on what he called "absurd charges."
Harris said that officer remains active on the police force.
"I am appalled at the actions of Officer Sigman, as well by the inaction of Chief Thompson in correcting this officer's gross misconduct," Harris said. "There is no excuse for this officer's actions, and with the current civil unrest that is sweeping this country, this type of action only provokes and promotes negative reaction."
Below is the body camera video of the incident, submitted to the Courier News by the Harris Law Firm. Warning: The video contains strong language.
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