TEMPE — City prosecutors have charged an Arizona State University senior with two misdemeanors stemming from a July Mill Avenue arrest that went viral after bystander video appeared to show an officer punching her during a takedown.
Court records list disorderly conduct and hindering or interfering with police against Eryn Kelise Bonner, 21, a member of the ASU Stunt Team. A pretrial conference is set for Nov. 4 in Tempe Municipal Court.
Police said Bonner approached bike officers who were detaining a companion outside a Mill Avenue venue early July 19, ignored orders to step back and tried to pull an officer away. Officers reported shoving her to the ground; video circulating online also shows a punch to the face as she was tackled onto a bicycle.
Tempe police initially sought felony aggravated assault and resisting-arrest charges. The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office declined those counts, finding no reasonable likelihood of conviction. Tempe later refiled misdemeanors in city court after reviewing additional evidence.
Bonner’s attorney, Benjamin Taylor, called the city’s decision a disappointing revival of a case the county already rejected and has argued the force used was excessive. Tempe police say an internal review remains open; officials have not announced a third-party investigation.