Internal Investigation Goes To State Police

FARMINGTON — Farmington police have turned over an internal investigation on a claim of excessive force to the Arkansas State Police, according to Lt. Chad Parrish.

Parrish said the department contacted the Washington County Prosecuting Attorney’s office last week and the office sent the state police to pick up files and other materials related to the investigation.

Farmington conducted an internal investigation after Micaela Fillmore-Stephens filed a complaint that two officers used excessive force while arresting her 15-yearold son on New Year’s Eve at Kum & Go in Farmington. No officers were placed on leave during the internal investigation.

The teen was charged with resisting arrest, possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia, all misdemeanors. Fillmore-Stephens said police pushed her son up against a wall, breaking a front tooth and causing other injuries during the arrest. A video taken by her son’s friend during the incident was posted on the mother’s blog.

The police report on the incident said the police officer observed the juvenile and a friend in the bathroom at Kum & Go. One of the boys was trying to push what appeared to be a marijuana pipe into his pocket. The teen admitted it was a pipe, the police report states. The report goes on to describe the arrest, saying the juvenile refused to comply with verbal commands, resisted the officer and was yelling and using profanity toward the officer and another one who showed up to assist.

Parrish said he could not release any information from the internal investigation.