Viral video of Arizona cheerleader slammed to ground by police and punched draws national outcry
- ASU cheerleader Eryn Bonner punched and tackled by Tempe police after attempting to intervene in boyfriend's arrest.
- Viral footage captures officer allegedly groping Bonner during the chaotic scuffle.
- High-profile civil rights attorneys Ben Crump and Lee Merritt weigh in on potential use-of-force violations.
- Bonner slapped with misdemeanor charges after filing a sexual assault complaint against arresting officers.
- Defense claims charges are retaliatory; demands independent investigation into department conduct.
Brief Summary
The Tempe Police Department is under fire after a viral video surfaced showing an officer punching ASU cheerleader Eryn Bonner during an arrest. Bonner, who was attempting to stop officers from taking her boyfriend into custody, was shoved, tackled, and allegedly groped by police during the struggle. While the Maricopa County attorney initially declined to press charges, the city later charged Bonner with disorderly conduct and interference—a move her legal team characterizes as a retaliatory strike to undermine her sexual assault complaint against the department.
Why This Matters
This case highlights the volatile intersection of police authority and civilian intervention, raising critical questions about the threshold for 'reasonable' force. When local law enforcement agencies police their own internal investigations, public trust is often the first casualty. You should pay attention to this case because it sets a precedent for how your local police department handles allegations of misconduct and whether filing a formal complaint against officers can lead to immediate criminal repercussions for the accuser. It serves as a stark reminder that even a standard police interaction can escalate into a legal nightmare, and the impartiality of internal affairs remains a significant concern for anyone interacting with law enforcement.