Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-ared-4_23-cv-01153/USCOURTS-ared-4_23-cv-01153-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 550
Nature of Suit: Prisoner - Civil Rights (U.S. defendant)
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS 

CENTRAL DIVISION 

QUENTIN HALE 

#553659 

PLAINTIFF 

v. No. 4:23-cv-1153-DPM 

CITY OF MORRILTON and 

NATHAN WATKINS, Police 

Officer, Morrilton Police Department 

ORDER 

DEFENDANTS 

1. Motion to proceed in forma pauperis, Doc. 1, granted. The 

Court assesses an initial partial filing fee of $20.53. Hale's 

custodian must collect monthly payments from his prison trust account 

each time the amount in the account exceeds $10.00. These payments 

will be equal to twenty percent of the preceding month's income 

credited to the account; and they will be collected and forwarded to 

the Clerk of the Court until the $350.00 filing fee is paid in full. 

28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(2). The payments forwarded on Hale's behalf must 

be clearly identified by the case name and case number. 

2. The Court directs the Clerk to send a copy of this Order to 

the Administrator of the Conway County Detention Center, 

30 Southern Valley Dr., Morrilton, Arkansas 72110. 

3. The Court must screen Hale's§ 1983 complaint. 28 U.S.C. 

§ 1915(e). In June 2023, Officer Watkins initiated a traffic stop of 

Case 4:23-cv-01153-DPM Document 3 Filed 12/06/23 Page 1 of 3
Jasmine Williams. Because Hale, her passenger, had active warrants, 

he was arrested. He says Officer Watkins used excessive force during 

that arrest. Though Hale was handcuffed and not resisting, Officer 

Watkins slammed him to the ground and tased him. Hale alleges 

resulting physical and mental issues, including PTSD. He seeks 

damages and the return of his cell phone. 

In the search after the arrest, Officer Watkins discovered that Hale 

possessed fentanyl. Hale is currently awaiting trial for trafficking of 

controlled substances, possession of drug paraphernalia, and 

endangering the welfare of a minor. State v. Hale, 15CR-23-250 

(Conway County). As a result, the Court must abstain from proceeding 

with his federal case because the state case is ongoing. Arkansas has an 

important interest in enforcing its criminal laws, and Hale may raise his 

constitutional claims during his state criminal proceedings. Younger v. 

Harris, 401 U.S. 37, 43-45 (1971); Mounkes v. Conklin, 922 F. Supp. 1501, 

1510-13 (D. Kansas 1996). Further, Hale hasn't alleged bad faith, 

harassment, or any other extraordinary circumstances that would make 

abstention inappropriate. Tony Alamo Christian Ministries v. Selig, 

664 F.3d 1245, 1254 (8th Cir. 2012). His claims must therefore be put on 

hold until there's a final disposition of his pending state charges. 

Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. v. Stroud, 179 F.3d 598, 603-04 (8th Cir. 

1999). 

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Case 4:23-cv-01153-DPM Document 3 Filed 12/06/23 Page 2 of 3
* * * 

The Court directs the Clerk to stay and administratively 

terminate this case. Hale can move to reopen this case after final 

disposition of his state case, including any appeal. Any motion to 

reopen must be filed within sixty days of that final disposition. If Hale 

doesn't file a timely motion to reopen or a status report by 

6 December 2024, then the Court will reopen the case and dismiss it 

without prejudice. 

So Ordered. 

D.P. Marshall Jr. v' 

United States District Judge 

f.t? ~ AD :)_ 3 

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Case 4:23-cv-01153-DPM Document 3 Filed 12/06/23 Page 3 of 3