NEW DETAILS released into Arkansas state representative arrest
LITTLE ROCK (KATV) — An Arkansas state representative was arrested Monday just before 11 a.m. at 9th and Commerce after police say he interfered in a traffic stop.
Rep. John W. Walker, 79, was arrested on one count of misdemeanor obstructing governmental operations.
Walker, a democrat, is serving his third term in the Arkansas House, representing District 34. Walker is also an attorney in Little Rock.
According to the Little Rock Police Department report, the incident began when officers noticed a vehicle that did not have a license plate.
Officers met with the driver, identified as Cedric Bell, who was found to have warrants out of Little Rock and North Little Rock for failure to appear and theft.
Bell was then taken into custody, and as officers were walking him to their vehicle, Rep. Walker was seen filming the arrest.
Officers asked Walker why he was filming, and he replied, "I'm just making sure they don't kill you," according to the police report.
The officers the tried to speak with Walker, but he reportedly kept talking over the officers in an "antagonistic and provocative manner."
The officers continued investigating the traffic stop, and found that a passenger, Gary Gregory, had a failure to appear warrant in Little Rock.
While officers were taking Gregory into custody, Omavi Kushukuru and Walker approached the vehicles.
Officers reportedly told them to stay out of the area of the traffic stop, which Kushukuru and Walker ignored. Kushukuru then walked behind the vehicle involved and was then taken into custody.
Walker was told several times to "leave or be arrested" by one of the officers involved, according to the incident report. Walker is said to have responded, "Arrest me," which the officer did.
One of the officers involved also reported hearing Walker tell one of the jailers that he "only wanted to file a complaint against the white officers."
