LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – The Arkansas Court of Appeals ruled in favor of a Little Rock police officer on Jan. 8 after a series of court cases regarding his possible violation of department policy.
Little Rock Police Department officer Charles Stark fatally shot Bradley Blackshire in February 2019 while attempting to intervene in a stolen car that Blackshire was driving. Blackshire turned the car to hit Starks, who landed on the car’s hood and fired 15 shots through the windshield, killing Blackshire.
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Starks told investigators at the time that he thought Blackshire was reaching for a gun while turning the car toward him.
The Little Rock Public Service Commission ruled that Starks had violated a general order requiring officers not to be in front of oncoming vehicles when deadly force was a likely outcome and should be terminated.
An appeal of that decision resulted in reversing the termination decision, instead reducing Starks salary and placing him on 30-day suspension. The city of Little Rock appealed that decision and the case was remanded to circuit court.