Family wins more than $60K in lawsuit against former Huntsville School Resource Officer

The story has been updated with a statement from the family’s attorney.

HUNTSVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — A federal jury ruled in favor of former student Justin Freeman in the civil trial against a former School Resource Officer Lynn Whittle, who used excessive force against Freeman.

Freeman’s family was seeking $450,000 in damages to cover attorney fees, according to the lawsuit. Whittle is ordered to pay $50,000 in punitive damages and $18,000 in compensatory damages.

This is vindication. Our client, a high school student,  was publicly accused of being an unruly juvenile and starting an altercation with the defendant, a Sheriff’s Deputy. He was being questioned by the defendant at school regarding an argument with a teacher, but declined to submit to questioning and called his guardian to come up to the school. As a minor, he had every right to refuse to answer questions from law enforcement until his guardian arrived. But the defendant didn’t want to wait. So, he arrested our client without probable cause, choking and tasering him in the process. The jury sided with our client on all counts: excessive force, battery and false arrest. The jury also assessed punitive damages, a finding that requires clear and convincing evidence that the defendant acted maliciously or with the intent to cause injury.

This officer quit the force before he could be fired. I asked the jury to make him answer for his actions. The jury’s verdict sent a message that we won’t tolerate officers who act like this because it smears the reputation of the entire law enforcement profession, which includes so many men and women who deserve our utmost respect.

Simon Law Firm Attorney Pat McPhail told KNWA/FOX24.

The federal lawsuit was filed by a former Huntsville High School student. The jury trial started on July 22.

Court documents state that Whittle 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.”

Whittle was said to have tased Freeman and handcuffed him while the prongs of the taser were still in his hip.

The former school officer was found guilty of excessive force battery and false arrest.

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