The city of North Little Rock paid $30,000 in November to a man whose arms were broken in an arrest by North Little Rock Officer Jon Crowder last year.

The payment was to settle any legal claims he might make against the city or arresting officers.

The video of the arrest shown at top, posted on YouTube by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, has been released to media by the police department. It depicts the suspect crying out as he’s handcuffed behind his back.

Crowder was charged this week with misdemeanor battery after the prosecuting attorney’s office found that a criminal charge was warranted over his handling of Kristopher Lamar in August 2018. That recommendation was made May 20, but it was more than a month before a charge was filed.


Crowder was suspended without pay for a month last October. He’s now on leave with pay. I’ve asked Police Chief Mike Smith why he has not been fired and have so far not received a response. Both Lamar’s arms were broken in Crowder’s handcuffing of him. I’ve also not received a response as yet to a request of any past disciplinary actions against Crowder or other reports of use of force.

I learned through FOI requests today that Michael Mosley, an assistant city attorney, had met with Lamar Nov. 6 about his seeking payment from the city for injuries. Lamar, who was accompanied by his wife, told Mosley he had incurred $1,800 in medical bills and expected more. Mosley offered $5,000 and said he would ask Prosecuting Attorney Larry Jegley to consider dropping charges against Lamar. Lamar, who was not represented by a lawyer, asked for time to think about it.


The city acknowledged Lamar had two broken ulnas and that it wanted to resolve his complaint about use of force. Mosley said a settlement would avoid litigation expenses.

“I’m just in pain all the time,” Lamar said during the meeting, which was recorded. “I want my life back, you know. I’d like to be able to get my arms back, too. Whatever it takes to do that.”

Within the next day or so, Lamar asked the city for $232,000. The city declined. Then it offered $30,000 and Lamar took it. The check was issued Nov. 8, two days after the initial meeting. The city paid the money itself rather than seeking liability coverage from the Arkansas Municipal League. The coverage is not guaranteed and excludes “intentional acts.” City Attorney Amy Fields said the city paid with its own funds because “there was a good possibility it would not be covered by Municipal League defense.”

As for the unrelated criminal charges: They were not dropped, which Prosecuting Attorney Larry Jegley made clear in distributing the record of his conviction. Lamar, 44, pleaded guilty Feb. 7 to 2018 charges of theft by use of a stolen credit card and possession of drug paraphernalia for meth cocaine and received a five-year probationary sentence in a negotiated plea deal. He also was fined $1,000 and ordered to pay $345 in other fees. He also was ordered to perform 100 hours of community service.


His arms were broken during a traffic stop. I originally wrote, based on notes of the meeting with Lamar, that he was suspected of driving with a suspended license. But his arrest arose from police checking on report of use of a stolen credit card at a nearby hotel and a potential stolen car.

Last night, I got the report on the stop. It includes the accounts of all officers involved in the arrest.

Crowder’s account:

At approximately 1029 hours I conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle at the request of Off. Davis. The suspect/ vehicle was involved in a felony stolen vehicle. Upon contact the driver first

refused to stop. When exiting his vehicle continued to roll. I then ordered him out of the vehicle. I attempted to pat him down. I could see several large bulges in his waistband. As I attempted to handcuff him he continued to pull away, grabbing at his waist . I attempted a wrist lock on Lamar to prevent him from grabbing at his waistband, and to pat him down for weapons. After being able to handcuff Lamar , he complained of pain to his right arm, and was looked at by MEMS. He refused transport to the hospital. I notified Sgt. Shoemaker who responded. While getting his ID I noticed a credit card belonging to a Jeffrey Evans in his front right pocket. I located an unused syringe in the sun visor(plain view). Lamar and his property was transported to the

Detectives division.

Officer Scott Harton gave this account of what happened when Lamar reached toward his waistband.