The Brief
- Tempe Police have launched an administrative investigation after video posted to social media showed an officer striking a woman during a late-night arrest on Mill Avenue.
- Court records show Eryn Kelise Bonner, 21, faces felony charges for aggravated assault on a first responder and resisting arrest after police say she interfered in a brawl and punched an officer in the face.
- Department officials and the local police union released surveillance and bodycam footage, maintaining that the short online clip leaves out critical context leading up to the officer’s use of force.
TEMPE, Ariz. – A viral video circulating on social media showing a Tempe police officer knocking a woman to the ground during a late-night arrest on Mill Avenue has sparked public outrage, but court records and police union representatives contend the clip leaves out crucial context leading up to the confrontation.
What we know:
The incident, which took place just before 2 a.m. Sunday morning outside the CASA and Sunbar nightclubs on Mill Avenue, led to the arrest of 21-year-old Eryn Kelise Bonner on felony charges of aggravated assault on a first responder and resisting arrest. While online critics accuse officers of using excessive force, police documents and official statements maintain that Bonner repeatedly interfered with officers trying to detain suspects in an active brawl, eventually punching an officer multiple times in the face before force was used to subdue her.
The controversy gained traction after Facebook user Quinn Gamino shared a brief video showing an officer throwing a punch at a woman during an arrest around 1:45 a.m. on July 19. The post called on the public to share the clip and expose the officer’s actions, alleging the woman was merely standing nearby while her partner was involved in a fight.…