Lawsuit alleges Huntsville SRO used excessive force on student, jury trial underway

HUNTSVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — The federal lawsuit filed by a former Huntsville High School student claiming a school resource officer choked and tased him went to a jury trial on July 22.

The student, Justin Freeman, now 18, was allegedly brought to the officer’s office on February 9, 2022, after a dispute about which class he was supposed to attend.

Lynn Whittle, the now former SRO, is accused of threatening to take the student to the courthouse when he refused to speak until his father arrived.

Whittle allegedly grabbed Freeman by the throat, pushed his head against the wall and lifted him by his throat from his chair. He then reportedly “forcefully slammed him to the ground, striking his head on a ledge in the process,” the lawsuit said.

The lawsuit then said Whittle tased Freeman and handcuffed him while the prongs of the taser were still in his hip.

Whittle arrested Freeman without a warrant or probable cause to do so, the lawsuit alleges.

Freeman is seeking $450,000 in damages to cover attorney fees, according to the lawsuit.

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