Federal authorities on Monday arrested the police chief of Bull Shoals, Arkansas for using excessive force in the arrest of a resident and later, filing a false report to justify the use of excessive force, according to officials.
The initial criminal complaint was unsealed today against Police Chief Daniel “Dan” Sutterfield, 35, who is being charged with one count of deprivation of rights and one count of falsifying a report, officials said.
The case was investigated by the FBI.
Sutterfield allegedly used excessive force on July 9 and later, he told an officer to write a false and misleading report about the incident to cover up what happened and justify the use of excessive force, officials said.
If convicted, Sutterfield is facing up to 10 years for the civil rights charge and up to 20 years behind bars for filing the false report, officials said.
Federal officials noted that Sutterfield’s sentence will be determined by a judge who will take into account many factors including the facts surrounding this incident.
Sutterfield is considered innocent until proven guilty.