City officer suspended after taser incident

By Staff
Melissa Cason
A Russellville police officer has been placed on suspension after allegedly using a taser on an inmate without provocation.
City Attorney Jeff Bowling confirmed that an officer has been placed on suspension and a formal investigation has been launched into the matter.
"All I can say is that there is an ongoing investigation into these allegations," Bowling said.
The officer is accused of tasing inmate Joseph Gentry, 27, of Kent Street in Phil Campbell, last week. Gentry had been in the Russellville City Jail since March 31 on a bond revocation.
Gentry's wife, Crystal, said she learned about the incident on Friday when her husband told her about it.
"He told me the incident occurred on Thursday after he had been doing laundry at fire station number two," Crystal Gentry said.
"They were watching a DVD about the taser when the officer tased him for no reason."
She said she filed a complaint with the city after learning what had happened and admits that they have sought legal representation to ensure that this sort of incident will not happen to anyone else.
"I just don't want this to happen to anyone else," she said. "It's not right."
Bowling said the officer's name is not being released at this time, and no course of discipline will be taken until the investigation is completed.