Video of ASU Cheerleader’s Arrest Gains Attention

A video depicting the arrest of an Arizona State cheerleader has gone viral, showing the student being forcefully thrown to the ground by police while she was handcuffed for allegedly interfering with another arrest outside a bar in Tempe, Arizona.

This incident took place back in July, but it’s only now that the Tempe Police Department has released the footage, as reported.

The video captures a chaotic scene involving several people outside a bar. Before things escalated, police officers nearby promptly intervened, attempting to detain one of the individuals involved in the altercation.

In the footage, ASU senior Eryn Bonner can be seen stepping in, shouting “let him go,” as she tries to place herself between the officers and the suspect being cuffed.

Initially, she was forcefully pushed away but quickly got back up and rushed at the police again. An officer then tackled her to the ground and proceeded to arrest her.

According to police, Bonner not only jumped in but also began to physically assault the officers attempting to control the situation. She was subsequently charged with assault, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct, and obstructing a police officer.

There were discussions of felony charges, but the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office chose not to pursue them.

Moreover, at least one charge against Bonner was dropped, yet the County Attorney indicated this was a strategic move to consolidate the charge along with others. A spokesperson for the police mentioned that the City Attorney’s Office dismissed the previous charge to refocus on the misdemeanor charge alongside other relevant charges after carefully reviewing the available evidence.

The Bonner family is now preparing to file a lawsuit, claiming the officer who arrested Eryn should lose their job.

“This was very extreme, very excessive,” said family attorney Benjamin Taylor. “There was no justification for the multiple pushes and strikes.”

The family conveyed their sadness over their daughter’s experience, saying: “There are no words to fully describe the heartbreak of watching our daughter being hurt by someone entrusted to protect and serve our community. The expectation for public servants to uphold the highest standards is not meant to undermine those who act honorably; it’s crucial for maintaining public trust.”

Tempe Police Chief Kenneth McCoy defended the actions of the officers involved, saying the video clearly shows Bonner assaulting them and attempting to interfere with the arrest.

“I appreciate having cameras in our community to capture the entire incident and not just a brief clip that most people saw,” the chief remarked. “We’ll thoroughly investigate every aspect of what happened, with all officers involved subjected to this review. We will also evaluate our policies and procedures to ensure they were correctly followed.”

Despite this assurance, the department has indicated that it continues to assess the incident in accordance with its conduct standards.