Former Gans police chief among trio investigated

A former Gans police chief is among three law enforcement officers seen in a viral video which has gained national attention for showing a suspect being beaten in a use-of-force incident in Arkansas. The case is currently under investigation, according to reports.

Thell Riddle, who served as a police officer and chief of police for the town of Gans for 12 years, according to his profile, was named along with Zack King and Levi White as the three officers seen in the video beating Randal Worcester in Mulberry, Ark. The incident occurred Sunday, initially at an Alma gas station before ending with the altercation in Mulberry, according to the attorney who is representing the victim.

A video produced by a witness went viral this week, and has received millions of views online.

Riddle, whose age is unknown, is currently working for the Mulberry Police Department. King and White have been identified as deputies for the Crawford County Sheriff‚‚s Office.

According to Gans Assistant Police Chief Gary Jones, Riddle worked for the Gans Police Department prior to his (Jones‚) employment and could not provide any details about Riddle during his time at Gans. He did say Riddle left the department in 2017 to take a new position in Arkansas.

The mayor of Gans, Gary McGinnis, said Riddle worked for the Gans Police Department before McGinnis began serving on the council in 2018. According to McGinnis, Riddle told him, (McGinnis) he was leaving the department for a “better” job.

McGinnis said records indicate Riddle was employed at Gans from July 2010 to March 2017.

“I was working for the Gans Post Office at the time he told me he was leaving,” McGinnis said. “I‚m guessing he worked for a total of six and a half years.”

McGinnis said during the time he knew Riddle, he had not heard of any accounts of excessive force involving Riddle.

However, according to information released from the Mulberry Police Department, Riddle has worked in law enforcement since 2000 when he was hired at the Crawford County Sheriff‚s Office. He resigned from the sheriff‚s office in 2008 due to “personal conflicts,” according to records from the Arkansas Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Training.

Riddle then went to work for the Kibler Police Department. The small town in Crawford County has a population of about 1,000.

Riddle was fired from the department in September 2008, less than six months after being hired because he was “involved in a domestic disturbance,” according to state records.

Attorney David Powell, who recently opened his office in Sallisaw, and fellow attorney, Adam Rose, are representing the victim, Worcester, with the help of another Sallisaw attorney, Carrie Jerigan, Powell said. Powell said Thursday Worcester was arrested for formal felony charges in Crawford County, which are pending and “may or may not” be dropped.

“It‚s all up to the district attorney there,” Powell said.

“He bonded out Monday and is at home with family in Oklahoma City. The investigation against the three officers is being conducted by the Arkansas State Police, the Department of Justice and the FBI,” Powell said.