A video said to be of a Tontitown man being arrested on a felony complaint of piercing his son’s left ear has gone viral, prompting police to release a statement about their actions.
The footage captures the moment five police officers enter Jeremy Sherland’s house to make an arrest. On Thursday, police confirmed the arrest.
Sherland laughs loudly, tossing his head up and he is heard saying, “Body art without a license!” He is then arrested on a felony complaint of piercing his son’s ear at home and pushed out by the officers. In the video of the arrest, a woman says, “Guys, chill… What is really going on here, you know? This is ridiculous.”
As Sherland is escorted by officers to a police car parked at the curb, a boy’s voice says, “I wanted my ears pierced.”
A woman who states she lives at the house says, “Piercing is done here without a license. It takes three cops, four cops, coming into my house with no permission. No permission and busted in my front door. This is the boy right here who got a pierced ear by his dad. These cops busted in my front door. Busted in the front door.” She could not be immediately reached for comment about the video Sunday.
The clip can be seen on various websites, some of which even feature commentary. The Times Record looked at one by @iamnugget770, whose younger self is revealed in bio and comments. The Times Record is still trying to get in touch with the family despite the fact that the video cannot be independently authenticated beyond the police statement.
Tontitown police issued a statement on Saturday saying that Sherland is being accused of breaking an Arkansas law that bans body piercing for minors under the age of 16. Ear piercing is legal in all 50 states. The Tontitown police report does not say where the boy’s ear was pierced.
Performing a piercing in an unregulated location is likewise illegal.
According to online jail records, 45-year-old Sherland was freed from the Washington County Jail in Arkansas on Saturday after posting $1,500 bond. In addition to endangering a youngster, resisting arrest, and obstructing government operations, he is being investigated for these crimes.
“Officers were met by Jeremy at the front door. Officers asked Jeremy to step outside. Jeremy refused standing in the doorway with his hands behind the door and wall posturing himself.
Officers told Jeremy he was under arrest and explained the probable cause for the arrest. Jeremy refused to comply. Officers then took him into custody,” Tontitown police said in the statement.
Police said the arrest occurred after a resource officer from Springdale Public Schools filed a report on Thursday. Tontitown police were notified by the school’s resource officer that a male student had arrived with his left ear pierced. The policeman claimed to have overheard the child saying that his father had been intoxicated when he was pierced.
“While sitting in class talking with other students and a teacher present, the juvenile male stated his dad was drunk and put him in a choke hold and shoved the piercing in his ear,” Tontitown police said in the statement.
When police visited Sherland’s house on Thursday, they said he confirmed piercing his son’s ear but would not elaborate.
