Osceola Police Chief Under Investigation for Alleged Assault
Mayor Joe Harris Jr. ordered an outside review after the video drew thousands of views and raised questions about police conduct.
- Osceola Police Chief Robert "Bobby" Ephlin resigned Wednesday after a viral video appeared to show him slapping a man in a wheelchair, ending his tenure after about 10 days on the job.
- The incident occurred on Monday, April 6, when Ephlin confronted Danarius Williams, a man paralyzed from the waist down for 13 years, during a police response to a neighborhood fight.
- Williams told local media he was questioning why officers detained his family members when Ephlin "violated my personal space." The encounter deepened community distrust in the department.
- Osceola Mayor Joe Harris Jr. had initiated an independent review by an outside agency, stating the city is "committed to upholding the highest standards of professionalism" and will take appropriate action based on findings.
- Ephlin was sworn in only on March 26, 2026, and the incident sparked community concerns, with Williams questioning whether officers lacking respect for disabled citizens' rights would show similar disregard to others.
13 Articles
13 Articles
Osceola mayor confirms resignation of city's police chief after video appears to show him slapping man in wheelchair
OSCEOLA, Ark. — After about 10 days on the job, Osceola Police Chief Robert "Bobby" Ephlin resigned Wednesday. His resignation comes after a video circulating online appears to show him
Osceola police chief under investigation after viral video
Investigation underway after viral video shows Osceola police chief slap man in wheelchair (Photo K8 News) The newly hired police chief of Osceola is under investigation after a video circulating on social media appears to show him striking a man in a wheelchair. Osceola Mayor Joe Harris Jr. has called for an independent investigation into Police Chief Robert “Bobby” Ephlin following the incident, which reportedly occurred around 8 Monday. The v…
'He Smacked the Hell Out of Me': Video of an Arkansas Police Chief Slapping Man in Wheelchair Sparks an Independent Investigation
Less than two weeks into his new role, the Chief of Police of Osceola, Arkansas, faces an external investigation initiated by the mayor after he was
Video showing Osceola police chief slapping man in wheelchair prompts investigation | Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
The recently appointed Osceola police chief is under investigation after an online video showed him slapping a man in a wheelchair, according to a social media post from the city.
'He smacked me': Osceola, AR investigates allegations police chief hit man in wheelchair
OSCEOLA, Ark. -- The City of Osceola, Arkansas, is investigating after a video allegedly shows the Osceola Police Chief assaulting a paraplegic man in a wheelchair. In a video sent to WREG, Chief Bobby Ephlin appears to be slapping a man in a wheelchair on the street and putting the man in a headlock. Mayor [...]
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