Tempe police officer arrested a woman when she interfered and punched an officer in the face
By: -----
Tempe, AZ - 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.
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.
However, court documents paint a starkly different picture of the encounter. According to police reports, three Tempe police bike squad officers were actively trying to arrest two men involved in a physical fight when Bonner allegedly intervened by standing behind officers and physically trying to pull one of the detained suspects away. Officers shoved Bonner back and gave multiple verbal orders to step back, but police say she repeatedly re-engaged and pushed her body between officers while they struggled to control the suspects.
After being shoved back a second time, Bonner allegedly raised her fists and aggressively approached an officer in a fighting stance. When the officer tried to place her under arrest, both fell to the ground during the struggle. According to the arrest report, Bonner then struck the officer in the face five to six times while he was on top of her attempting to gain control. The officer responded by "striking Bonner once in the face" to stop the assault, allowing police to finally place her in handcuffs.
The arresting officer sustained a 3-to-4-inch laceration to his forearm, wrist scratches and facial pain from the strikes.