Eryn Bonner, a 21-year-old Arizona State University student, has been charged with misdemeanor offenses following a confrontation with police officers on July 19 in Tempe, Arizona. The incident, which was captured on video, showed Bonner intervening as officers arrested her friends outside a nightclub.
Initially, Bonner faced two felony counts of aggravated assault on a first responder and resisting arrest. However, the Maricopa County Attorney's Office declined to prosecute these charges. Following this decision, the Tempe City Court filed misdemeanor charges including assault, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct, and obstruction.
Video footage showed Bonner, dressed in a white outfit, approaching officers who were detaining one of her friends after an alleged altercation. As other friends attempted to de-escalate the situation, officers reportedly used force to restrain them. Bonner then reportedly grabbed an officer and attempted to pull him away from one of her friends. Officers instructed her to step back, but she did not comply. In the video, an officer is seen pushing Bonner to the ground, throwing her over a bicycle, and striking her in the face. Witnesses were heard pleading with officers to stop.
Bonner's family has accused the officers of excessive force, stating their heartbreak at seeing her injured and expressing concern for public trust in law enforcement. "Expecting public servants to live up to the highest standards of their profession is not an act of animosity toward those who serve with honor," the family said in a statement.
Conversely, law enforcement officials and the Tempe Officers Association maintain that Bonner initiated physical contact. According to court documents cited by officers, Bonner struck one of the officers approximately five times before she was struck back. Rob Ferraro, president of the Tempe Officers Association, stated that body-worn camera footage supported the officers' actions and suggested that viral social media clips often lack crucial context.
The Tempe Police Department acknowledged the public's concern, stating that the circulating video captured only a portion of a rapidly evolving encounter. The department released additional video clips to provide further context and initiated a thorough administrative investigation into whether the officer's actions were consistent with department policy. The investigation includes reviewing body-worn camera footage, witness statements, and all other evidence.
Two of Bonner's friends, Isaiah Johnson and Jonathan Nwariaku, both 21, were also arrested. Nwariaku faces charges of assault and disorderly conduct, while Johnson is charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.
Bonner's attorney expressed satisfaction that the felony charges were dropped, citing a lack of reasonable likelihood of conviction. Bonner is scheduled for a preliminary court hearing on August 6. A spokeswoman for the county attorney's office indicated that while the felony charges would not be resubmitted, they would be reviewed again if new evidence emerges.