Arizona cheerleader alleges officer assaulted her during arrest; two charges remain
Arizona State University cheerleader Eryn Bonner says a Tempe police officer punched her and groped her during an arrest captured in widely shared video. The allegations have prompted criticism of the officers’ use of force, while Bonner now faces two misdemeanour charges.
The incident took place outside a Tempe nightclub on 19 July, after officers intervened in a fight involving Bonner’s friends. Video shows Bonner approaching officers as they arrested two men, then being pushed down and struck; police court documents allege she struck an officer first. Prosecutors initially considered felony charges but declined to pursue them, and the city filed the current charges on 23 September. Bonner’s lawyer says she has pleaded not guilty and alleges the charges are retaliation for her complaint; the Tempe Officers’ Association disputes his account.
- Cheerleader Eryn Bonner alleges an officer punched and groped her during arrest.
- Viral footage shows officers restraining her outside a Tempe nightclub.
- She faces two misdemeanour charges and has pleaded not guilty.
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On 19 July, an arrest outside a Tempe nightclub in Arizona became the subject of widespread scrutiny after video of the incident circulated publicly. The incident occurred when police intervened in a fight involving friends of Eryn Bonner, an Arizona State University cheerleader, and resulted in her being arrested.
Bonner alleges that a police officer punched her and groped her during the arrest. Video footage shows her being pushed to the ground and struck, though police documents claim she struck an officer first. This fundamental disagreement over what took place is at the heart of the case.
Bonner currently faces two misdemeanour charges. Prosecutors initially considered pursuing more serious criminal charges before declining to do so; the city filed the current charges in September. The incident has raised questions about police use of force, with Bonner's lawyer claiming the charges are retaliation for her complaint, a characterisation the Tempe Officers' Association rejects.
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The case for
The officer's response appears disproportionate to any threat posed. Video evidence shows the officer striking the cheerleader, and her allegations of physical assault and groping suggest possible misconduct requiring investigation. The prosecutors' decision to decline felony charges whilst still charging her with misdemeanours months later—after she filed a complaint—raises serious questions about whether these charges function as retaliation rather than legitimate accountability. Officers intervening in disputes must be held to rigorous standards about using force only when necessary and proportionate.
The case against
Police documents indicate Bonner struck an officer first, providing legal justification for a forceful response. Officers responding to an active street fight face rapidly evolving situations and must assess potential threats quickly; her approach to agitated officers during arrests could reasonably be perceived as interference or threat. The video captures only a moment in the sequence and does not necessarily show the full context of what prompted the officer's actions. Prosecutors reviewed the case thoroughly and declined felony charges whilst supporting misdemeanour charges, suggesting they found conduct inappropriate but not criminal at the highest level.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Arizona State cheerleader says she was punched in the face and ‘groped’ by cop during viral takedown arrest”.