ASU Cheerleader Still Traumatized After Viral Police Arrest Video, Attorney Says

An Arizona State University student is speaking out after a July arrest in Tempe that was captured on video and later went viral, with her attorney saying she remains traumatized by the encounter.

Eryn Bonner, 21, an ASU senior and member of the university’s stunt team, is facing two misdemeanor charges connected to the incident: disorderly conduct and hindering or interfering with police.

Bonner has pleaded not guilty.

The case has attracted widespread attention after video footage appeared to show an officer pushing Bonner to the ground and striking her during the arrest. Her attorney, Benjamin Taylor, has accused the officer of using excessive force and says Bonner was injured during the encounter.

What Happened That Night?

The confrontation happened around 1:45 a.m. on July 19 in the Mill Avenue area of Tempe, Arizona.

According to police, officers were attempting to arrest people involved in a confrontation when Bonner approached them. Police said she was repeatedly told to move away but allegedly continued to intervene.

The police account states that Bonner attempted to pull an officer away and later resisted arrest. Authorities further allege that she struck an officer several times during the struggle.

The officer then struck Bonner, according to the police report, in an effort to stop her alleged resistance.

Bonner’s attorney disputes that account.

Taylor says Bonner was frightened after seeing officers take her boyfriend to the ground and approached because she wanted to make sure he was safe. He alleges that the situation escalated unnecessarily and that an officer pushed Bonner into a police bicycle before taking her to the ground.

Taylor also alleges that the officer struck Bonner in the face and inappropriately touched her during the struggle.

Those allegations have not been established in court.

Video Sparks Questions

Footage from the incident has circulated widely online.

In the video, Bonner can be seen approaching officers who were dealing with other people. Officers appear to tell her to back away before a physical confrontation occurs.

Another portion of the footage shows an officer taking Bonner to the ground and restraining her near a police bicycle.

Her attorney says the footage raises serious questions about whether the amount of force used was appropriate.

Tempe Police, however, has maintained that the incident needs to be evaluated in its full context rather than based on a short video clip. The department said it opened an administrative review to determine whether the officer’s actions were consistent with department policy and training.

Bonner Says She Is Still Dealing With the Aftermath

According to Taylor, Bonner was held for nearly 24 hours following her arrest and later received medical treatment.

He told PEOPLE that she suffered physical injuries and continues to experience emotional distress following the encounter.

A photograph shared by her attorney showed bruising on Bonner’s face.

Taylor has also criticized the decision to pursue misdemeanor charges against Bonner after the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office declined to pursue felony charges.

He argues that the new charges are connected to Bonner’s complaints about the officers’ conduct and has characterized the prosecution as retaliatory.

The authorities involved have disputed that characterization.

Two Different Accounts of the Arrest

The case remains controversial because Bonner’s legal team and Tempe police describe the encounter very differently.

Police say Bonner interfered with an active arrest and later struck an officer during the struggle.

Her attorney says she was attempting to protect her boyfriend and that officers responded with excessive force.

Tempe Police has said it takes allegations of officer misconduct seriously and that the incident remains under review. The department has indicated that officials will evaluate the circumstances before reaching conclusions about whether department policies were violated.

Meanwhile, Bonner is continuing to fight the misdemeanor charges.

A pretrial conference is scheduled for November 4, according to PEOPLE’s latest report.

The case is likely to remain under scrutiny as the criminal proceedings and the administrative review move forward.

SOURCES

1. PEOPLE
   “ASU Cheerleader Punched by Police in Viral Arrest Video Is ‘Still Traumatized,’ Attorney Says”
2. AZFamily
   Coverage of the misdemeanor charges and the competing accounts of the incident.
3. The Independent
   Additional reporting on the viral arrest footage and Bonner’s attorney’s allegations.