VIDEO: Trooper Shatters Window, Fires Five Stun Gun Cartridges During Osceola Arrest

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OSCEOLA, Ark. — An Arkansas State Police trooper shattered a driver’s window with a baton, held him at gunpoint and fired five stun gun cartridges during an Oct. 3 traffic stop near Plantation Drive and West Keiser Avenue, according to the trooper’s use-of-force report.

NEA Report obtained video of the encounter this week through the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act. The account below is drawn from the written incident report by Trooper Moisses Arellano.

The driver, Lonnie F. Dabney III, 38, of Gilmore, was taken to the Osceola Police Department city jail after medical personnel evaluated his injuries and cleared him for transportation, according to the report.

How the Stop Began

Arellano wrote that he was conducting traffic enforcement about 1:30 p.m. when he saw a maroon 2017 Dodge Challenger with what he described as improper tint on its rear and side windows. The car was stopped at a stop sign in the median travel lane of West Keiser Avenue, preparing to cross onto Plantation Drive.

The trooper positioned his patrol vehicle behind the Challenger and checked its registration. Part of the registration inquiry’s result is redacted in the provided report. Arellano initiated the stop after the Challenger crossed West Keiser onto Plantation Drive.

Arellano said he recognized Dabney, observed that he was not wearing a seat belt and told him the registered owner had a suspended driver’s license.

According to the report, Dabney initially displayed an Arkansas Department of Transportation identification badge. When asked for his driver’s license, Dabney turned it toward the trooper but did not hand it over. Arellano wrote that he could confirm the identification matched Dabney.

The trooper said Dabney then put the license back into his wallet, questioned why it was needed and argued that the reason for the stop had not been explained. Arellano wrote that he had explained the reason.

Dabney began using his cellphone and scrolling through contacts, according to the report. Arellano requested another unit and again asked whether Dabney would provide his license. The report quotes Dabney responding, “Nah.”

Window Broken, Driver Held at Gunpoint

Arellano said he attempted to open the driver’s door and ordered Dabney to get out. The window was lowered about an inch, and the trooper said he could see through the dark tint that Dabney was recording the encounter.

The trooper returned to his patrol vehicle for a baton, struck the lower right corner of the driver’s window and shattered it. He reported striking the remaining glass twice more to clear the opening.

Arellano wrote that he then held Dabney at gunpoint while ordering him out. He said Dabney continued recording, shouted expletives and refused to exit.

The trooper reached inside to unlock the door and opened it. After approximately five commands to exit, Arellano switched to his conducted energy weapon, commonly called a stun gun, and activated its audible and visual warning.

The report says Dabney then began getting out with his hands raised and his cellphone pointed toward the trooper, repeatedly shouting, “I’m getting out! I’m getting out!”

Arellano said he gave approximately five commands for Dabney to lie on the ground. He described Dabney turning away, repeatedly looking back and walking backward with his hands still raised.

The trooper interpreted those movements as signs Dabney might flee or physically resist. He wrote that Dabney moved around and past the open driver’s door toward an open field, with a residential neighborhood approximately 50 yards behind him.

Five Cartridges Fired

Arellano reported firing the first two cartridges toward Dabney’s left chest and left knee. Neither produced what the report calls “neuromuscular incapacitation,” or the involuntary muscle response the trooper was trying to achieve.

After the second probe contacted Dabney’s knee, Dabney began lowering himself toward the roadway, according to the report.

Arellano said he continued firing because Dabney had not followed his commands and he wanted to establish an effective electrical connection before moving in to handcuff him. He also cited concern that Dabney could physically resist, pointing to his behavior and the difference in their sizes. The report lists Dabney as 6 feet 5 inches tall and 220 pounds.

The third cartridge grazed Dabney’s right forearm, the fourth traveled over his shoulder and the fifth struck his right buttocks, according to Arellano.

The trooper wrote that the third through fifth cartridges were fired while Dabney was still moving toward the ground. He said the fifth made contact immediately before Dabney became fully prone on the roadway.

According to Arellano, that fifth cartridge established an effective connection and delivered a five-second discharge. He described Dabney’s body locking up and an involuntary yell. The report describes five cartridges fired; it does not describe five successful electrical incapacitations.

Arellano moved toward Dabney during the discharge and said Dabney’s body went limp when it ended. The trooper holstered the weapon but left its wires connected in case another discharge became necessary.

Arellano said Dabney did not comply with commands to put his hands behind his back, so he moved Dabney’s arms into position and handcuffed him.

Injuries and Allegations

The trooper documented puncture wounds near Dabney’s left chest, left knee and right buttocks, a graze wound on his right forearm and a small cut near the bridge of his nose. Arellano wrote that the facial injury appeared consistent with a possible cut from the broken window glass.

An ambulance was called, and medical personnel evaluated Dabney and cleared him for transportation, according to the report. The report includes photographs documenting the injuries.

Arellano said he inventoried the Challenger, which was towed, and retrieved Dabney’s cellphone and transportation department work identification at Dabney’s request to take with him to jail.

The report lists allegations of obstructing governmental operations, refusal to submit to arrest, driving on a suspended license, improper window tint and failure to wear a seat belt.

As of Oct. 22, charges stemming from Dabney’s arrest did not appear in NEA Report’s search of CourtConnect. No booking record was found for the suspect. A search for Arellano showed several other cases involving the trooper had been filed since the Oct. 3 stop.