A routine Halloween night in Hot Springs, Arkansas, took a turn when a police officer confronted a group of teenage girls for littering, sparking an altercation that quickly escalated into a physical confrontation.
The incident, captured on police body camera footage, began with Lieutenant Kenny May observing one of the girls throwing a can onto the street. May pulled over his patrol car and cautioned the group about littering, warning them of potential consequences if the behavior continued.
Tensions Rise, Prompting Backup Request
Despite the warning, the situation deteriorated. The girls became increasingly confrontational, yelling profanities at the officer and refusing to provide their parents’ contact information. As tensions mounted, one of the girls threw the can directly at May, prompting him to call for backup.
Physical Altercation Ensues
The arrival of additional officers did little to quell the situation. The altercation turned physical when one of the girls grabbed May. He continued to back away, instructing them to move back, but they refused. In the ensuing struggle, May took one girl to the ground. According to the Hot Springs Police Department, it was at this point that the other three girls began striking the officer in the face and neck. Backup officers intervened to break up the fight.
Arrests Made, Charges Filed
All four girls were arrested and placed in handcuffs, despite their continued resistance. One girl, experiencing an asthma attack, received medical attention at the scene.
The girls, all minors, were charged with battery in the second degree. Their identities have not been released.
Littering Stop Becomes “Crazy” Confrontation
Reflecting on the incident, Lieutenant May described the situation as surreal, stating, “It’s a littering call… I just signed for a Red Bull can and I was going to stop. ‘Hey man, pick up the can.’ Well, they pick it up and start running. I’m like, ‘Hey, don’t run,’ changed, like, just come back and talk to him for a minute and it’s automatically ‘F you’ and all this…”
The incident serves as a stark reminder of the unpredictable nature of police work, where even seemingly routine encounters can rapidly escalate.
