Hight claims that in August 2022, Sheriff’s Deputy Williams shot her accidentally while trying to shoot at a dog. The incident was captured on an eight-minute body camera video obtained by KATV, a local station.
A lawsuit has been filed against a Columbia County Sheriff’s Deputy, Brian Williams, by an Arkansas woman named Tina Hight
In the video, Sheriff’s Deputy Williams can be heard firing what appears to be a warning shot and asking Hight to control the dog, which had come out of her house and was approaching him. Despite yelling at the dog to back off, he reportedly fired another shot, and Hight was heard exclaiming, “You shot me.”
Denying the accusation, Sheriff’s Deputy Williams stated in the clip that he had shot at the dog, not Hight. He also mentioned that the dog had scratched the woman. However, the lawsuit argues that Sheriff’s Deputy Williams was not in any danger from the dog and had no reason to use his weapon.
Tina Hight’s attorney, Tre Kitchens, expressed concern over the incident, stating that Hight and another deputy standing nearby could have been killed. Hight’s lawsuit not only names Sheriff’s Deputy Williams but also includes retired Columbia County Sheriff Mike Loe.
Hight is questioning the department’s training procedures in her lawsuit and wondering if there are broader issues within the sheriff’s department
However, the department and attorneys representing the deputy and sheriff have not yet commented on the matter. Sheriff Leroy Martin responded to the news report on Facebook, clarifying that he was not the acting sheriff during the incident. He mentioned that the Arkansas State Police had conducted an investigation and cleared Sheriff’s Deputy Williams of any wrongdoing.
KATV attempted to review Sheriff’s Deputy Williams’ personnel file but found no records of reprimand or suspension. The file reportedly included training certifications over several years. The case is now under public scrutiny, and further evidence, including the complete body camera video, is expected to emerge.
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