Arizona cheerleader filmed being tackled and struck by police during July arrest
A video shows ASU senior Eryn Bonner being forced to the ground and struck by officers after she approached police during a July arrest, and she now faces two misdemeanor counts.
On July 19, a viral video recorded Arizona State University senior Eryn Bonner confronting officers who were detaining another person, urging “Let him go” before being slammed to the ground. Body-camera and by-stander footage shows a police officer tossing her onto a bicycle, striking her, and then handcuffing her, with another officer later restraining her. Tempe police allege Bonner punched an officer, but the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office refused to file felony charges, leaving her with two misdemeanor counts of disorderly conduct and interfering with police.
Bonner’s family released a statement condemning the violence, and her lawyer Benjamin Taylor called for the officer’s dismissal, citing alleged inappropriate contact. Former officer Josh Logan noted that if the assault claim is true, the force could be justified, yet he highlighted safety concerns about the bicycle. The Tempe Police Department said an internal investigation is underway.
Why it matters
The incident raises concerns about police use of force and accountability in a university community.
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