Newly released video showing an Arkansas state trooper tackling and punching an 18-year-old woman during a traffic stop is drawing national attention and demands for an investigation.
The Aug. 1 encounter involved Alisa Hackett, 18, of Osceola, Arkansas, and Arkansas State Police Trooper Moisses Arellano.
Hackett was stopped on State Highway 18 near Manila at about 10:45 p.m.
According to the Arkansas State Police report, Hackett was driving 71 mph in a 60-mph zone with her hazard lights activated.
What began as a speeding stop quickly escalated into an arrest and physical confrontation.
Now, civil rights attorney Ben Crump is calling for Arkansas State Police to conduct a use-of-force investigation.
Traffic Stop Begins Over Speeding
According to the police report, Arellano stopped Hackett after seeing her traveling 11 mph above the speed limit.
Hackett told the trooper she was trying to get home because a window on her vehicle had broken.
The trooper also reported several other issues.
Hackett was allegedly not wearing a seat belt. Her license plate was covered, and police said there was a cold bottle of Tito’s vodka inside the vehicle.
Hackett was 18 and therefore below the legal drinking age.
However, footage from the encounter indicates that the bottle was sealed.
The traffic stop became increasingly tense as Arellano prepared to issue citations.
Second Trooper Enters Conversation
The situation took another turn after Arellano contacted another state trooper.
According to CBS News, the second trooper said Hackett had been stopped for speeding several days earlier.
The trooper said she had an open alcohol container during that previous encounter but was released with a warning.
During the conversation captured on video, the second trooper encouraged Arellano to arrest Hackett.
Arellano then ordered Hackett out of her vehicle.
According to the police report, Hackett initially complied.
She then began turning around and asking why she was being arrested.
Arellano reported that Hackett pulled away from him.
He responded by taking her to the ground.
Trooper Punches Hackett in Face
The most controversial moment followed.
Arellano acknowledged in his official report that he struck Hackett with a closed fist.
He said Hackett was refusing commands to roll onto her stomach and that he used the strike in an attempt to gain compliance.
Video shows the confrontation on the side of the highway.
Arellano also pointed a stun gun toward Hackett but did not fire it.
She eventually placed her hands behind her back and was handcuffed.
The encounter has generated controversy not only because of the punch but also because of what was said afterward.
Hackett protested that the officer could not punch her in the face.
Arellano challenged that assertion and later told her that if a person resisted, he could use a punch.
The exchange has become a major focus of the public reaction to the footage.
Hackett Faces Multiple Charges
Police ultimately arrested Hackett.
According to CBS News, she was charged with refusal to submit to arrest and possession of alcohol by a minor.
She also received charges or citations involving speeding, failure to wear a seat belt, improper display of license tags and improper headlights.
The criminal allegations against Hackett and the question of whether the trooper used reasonable force are separate issues.
That distinction could become important as the case moves forward.
Even when police have grounds for an arrest, officers remain subject to legal standards governing how much force they can reasonably use.
That question is now at the center of the controversy.
Ben Crump Calls for Investigation
Prominent civil rights attorney Ben Crump has become involved in Hackett’s case.
Crump called on Arkansas State Police to conduct a use-of-force investigation through its Office of Professional Standards.
He also wants the findings made public.
In addition, Crump requested the release of any previous use-of-force reports involving Arellano.
Crump sharply criticized the trooper’s actions and questioned whether punching an 18-year-old during the encounter was a reasonable response.
His involvement significantly raises the national profile of the case.
Crump has represented families and individuals in numerous high-profile civil rights and police use-of-force cases.
Civil Rights Lawsuit Filed
The controversy has already moved into federal court.
Attorney Luther Sutter filed a civil rights lawsuit against Arellano on Hackett’s behalf.
The lawsuit alleges that the trooper used excessive force.
However, Hackett subsequently indicated that she was changing her legal representation to Crump, according to CBS News.
The lawsuit could force a closer examination of the entire traffic stop.
That may include the dashcam footage, police reports, officer training and Arkansas State Police use-of-force policies.
Investigators could also examine whether the level of resistance described by police justified the force shown on video.
Arkansas Officials Decline Detailed Comment
The Arkansas Department of Public Safety has not provided a detailed public defense of Arellano’s actions.
The department told CBS News that it has a long-standing policy of not commenting on matters involving pending litigation.
Officials also did not tell CBS News whether Arellano remains on active duty.
That leaves several important questions unanswered.
It is not yet clear whether Arkansas State Police will conduct the public investigation Crump is demanding.
Video Could Be Critical Evidence
The existence of video makes this case especially significant.
Police use-of-force disputes once depended heavily on conflicting accounts from officers and civilians.
Dashcams and body cameras have changed that.
Video can provide juries, investigators and the public with direct evidence of how an encounter unfolded.
But video does not automatically settle every legal question.
Investigators still must determine what happened before the physical confrontation, what commands were given, whether Hackett resisted and whether Arellano’s response complied with department policy and constitutional standards.
The trooper’s own written report will also be important because he acknowledged delivering the closed-fist strike.
Investigation Calls Grow After Video Release
The case now involves several separate questions.
Was Hackett legally arrested?
Did she resist arrest?
Did Arellano follow Arkansas State Police policy?
And was punching her in the face a reasonable use of force under the circumstances?
Those questions will likely determine what happens next.
Hackett faces charges stemming from the traffic stop.
At the same time, the trooper’s actions are facing growing scrutiny as the video spreads nationally.
The footage transformed what might have remained a relatively unknown Arkansas traffic arrest into a national debate over police use of force.
With a civil rights lawsuit already filed and Ben Crump demanding a formal investigation, the Aug. 1 traffic stop is unlikely to disappear from public attention anytime soon.
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