Tempe police slapped 21-year-old Eryn Bonner with two misdemeanor counts for disorderly conduct and hindering officers. The incident traces back to July 19, when cops on Mill Avenue attempted to detain a man. Bonner, a senior at Arizona State University and a member of the school's Stunt Team, intervened, leading to a physical struggle that ended with her on the ground.
A body-camera clip released by the department shows an officer tossing Bonner onto a bicycle. Another officer then pinned her down, punching her while applying handcuffs. The viral snippet of the arrest triggered immediate outrage. But the full footage, which police argue provides necessary context, shows Bonner ignoring commands to move away and allegedly striking an officer.
The Bonner family reacted with fury at the prospect of criminal charges following what they describe as a violent encounter. “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 family said in a statement. They remain focused on the physical injuries, including bruises, that Bonner sustained during the takedown.
Attorney Benjamin Taylor, representing the Bonner family, called the police response “very extreme and very excessive.” He argued that the officer who restrained her should be terminated for jumping on top of the student and delivering multiple strikes. Taylor also flagged a concerning detail at the end of the video, where an officer’s hand appears to make contact with Bonner’s buttocks.
The charges now set the stage for a confrontation in court. The Tempe Officers Association stands by the officers, insisting the footage justifies the use of force. Bonner must now decide whether to plead guilty to the misdemeanors or fight the charges in front of a judge.