Clarksville officer being investigated for using excessive force

Pledging transparency, Clarksville's Police Chief released body cam video of the incident in question, saying excessive use of any kind will not be tolerated at the department.

Pledging transparency, Clarksville's Police Chief released body cam video of the incident in question, saying excessive use of any kind will not be tolerated at the department.

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WEBVTT FOOT CHASE.JENNIFER: AND TONIGHT, WE'REGETTING OUR FIRST LOOK AT POLICEBODY CAM VIDEO OF THAT INCIDENT.WLKY'S LAUREN ADAMS IS LIVE ACLARKSVILLE POLICE HEADQUARTERS.LAUREN CLARKSVILLE'S CHIEF WILL: ONLY SAY SGT. JASON TACKETT A-- JASON TACKETT, A 12-YEARVETERAN OF THE DEPARTMENT IS, BEING INVESTIGATED INTERNALLY.SO FAR, THERE'S BEEN NODISCIPLINARY ACTION TAKEN BUTTHE CHIEF SAYS HIS DEPARTMENTDOES NOT TOLERATE ANY USE OFEXCESSIVE FORCE.NOW THIS RIGHT HERE IS WHAT'S-- [-- [SHOUTING] LAUREN NOW THIS RIGHT HERE IS: WHAT'S COME INTO QUESTION.THAT IS CLARKSVILLE SGT. JASONTACKETT.THIS COMES AFTER THE SUSPECT,36-YEAR-OLD RAY BARD, RAN FROMPOLICE TWICE IN A MATTER OFMINUTES EARLY SUNDAY MORNING.POLICE SUSPECTED HE WAS IN ASTOLEN CAR AND HAD FOLLOWED THECAR INTO LOUISVILLE WHEN BARDTOOK OFF.DURING THE 10-MINUTE VIDEOPROVIDED TO US BY CLARKSVILLE PDTHE SUSPECT CRIES OUT REPEATEDLYHE'S BEEN HURT SAYING HE WASKICKED IN THE FACE AND HIS RIBSWERE BROKEN.BUT ACCORDING TO POLICE, HEREFUSED MEDICAL TREATMENT AT THESCENE.HOWEVER, HE WAS LATERHOSPITALIZED AND FAMILY SAYS HESUFFERED SERIOUS INJURIESINCLUDING A PUNCTURED LUNG ANDBROKEN RIBS.TONIGHT, THEY SHARED THESEPICTURES OF BARD DURING HISTHREE-DAY HOSPITAL STAY.BARD WAS BOOKED YESTERDAY ATMETRO CORRECTIONS AND HE SPENTLESS THAN 24 HOURS THERE.

Clarksville officer being investigated for using excessive force

Pledging transparency, Clarksville's Police Chief released body cam video of the incident in question, saying excessive use of any kind will not be tolerated at the department.

CLARKSVILLE, Ind. —

Newly released police officer body cam video shows the incident that left a suspect hospitalized. A veteran officer, meanwhile, is now being investigated for excessive use of force.

Clarksville Police Chief Mark Palmer says the actions of Sgt. Jason Tackett, a 12 year veteran of the department, are being investigated, but so far no disciplinary action has been taken. The incident in question occurred just after 3:30 Sunday morning.

It began over what Clarksville police thought was a stolen car and came to an end in West Louisville near 34th and Rowan.

The suspect, Ray Bard, 36, had tried running but was tackled outside a home on North 34th Street. Almost immediately Bard began yelling, waking up at least one neighbor.

On body cam video, police can be heard talking to Marcella Dillion.

She said police had Bard on the ground outside her home, "The guy was on the ground and the cop had his knee against his neck and they were pounding him."

Clarksville Police handcuff Bard and then minutes later he took off running a second time. Officers are seen holding him up by the arms as he yells out. What happened next has Sgt. Tackett being investigated for excessive use of force.

Tackett appears to strong arm the suspect while leading him to a police cruiser. Marcella Dillion didn't see that part, but she says she heard it.

"I heard yelling, he was calling on God to help him, which, hey, he was being beat up," Dillion said.

Bard according to police, refused medical treatment at the scene, but was was hospitalized for three days. According to family he had several broken ribs and a punctured lung.

His friend and former roommate, Amanda Carter talked to him at the hospital and told WLKY he did not sound well.

"He just didn't sound like himself. You cant be that brutal, can't put so much force on somebody," she said, adding, "It needs to be addressed in Clarksville, definitely."

After his release from University Hospital Wednesday, Bard spent about 24 hours at Metro Corrections. A judge released him on home incarceration Thursday afternoon.

According to Clarksville Police, cocaine and meth were found in Bard's vehicle but he is not facing drug charges. Currently, he has been charged only with criminal mischief, for property damage caused when he crashed in Portland.