WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
- Video shows Arizona State senior Eryn Bonner being shoved to the ground and restrained on a bicycle during a confrontation with Tempe police.
- Bonner faces misdemeanor charges of disorderly conduct and hindering or interfering with police after prosecutors declined felony charges.
- Her attorney called the force excessive, demanded the officer’s firing, and accused him of inappropriate touching.
- Tempe police said the incident is under administrative review and that all available evidence will be evaluated.
A viral video captured an Arizona State University cheerleader being shoved to the ground and restrained on top of a bicycle by Tempe police after she allegedly interfered with another person’s arrest. The footage shows a chaotic confrontation that left the student bruised and facing misdemeanor charges.
Arizona State University senior Eryn Bonner was charged last week with disorderly conduct and hindering or interfering with police, according to the Tempe Police Department. The arrest occurred during the early morning hours of July 19 in Tempe.
Bonner, a member of the ASU Stunt team, was seen approaching officers who were arresting another individual. Police had already instructed her to get back, but she moved toward the officers again.
“Let him go, let him go,” Bonner could be heard screaming moments before the confrontation escalated. An officer then pushed the college student to the ground, according to the video.
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WATCH:
Arizona State cheerleader being shoved to ground, pummeled by cops as she tries to stop arrest –
Tempe police allege that Bonner punched an officer multiple times, the outlet reported.
https://t.co/TFERD5KHtB https://t.co/pdW49fRdUN— Blanche Victoria (@tammytabby) October 5, 2026
Tempe police allege Bonner punched an officer multiple times. Footage from the scene, including police body camera video, shows an officer throwing her onto a bicycle and attempting to restrain her.
The officer appears to strike Bonner before another officer moves in and places her in handcuffs. The disturbing clip also shows how quickly the encounter went from shouting to a violent struggle on the pavement.
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The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office declined to pursue felony charges against Bonner. Police told ABC15 that they would not resubmit the felony charges, leaving Bonner to face the two misdemeanor counts.
Bonner’s family issued a blistering statement describing the anguish of watching the video. “There are no words to fully describe the heartbreak of watching our daughter being hurt by someone entrusted to protect and serve our community,” the Bonner family said.
“The hardest thing is seeing the pain and sadness in her eyes that we cannot take away,” the statement continued. “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 also called public accountability essential to maintaining confidence in institutions. “Rather, it is essential to preserving public trust and upholding the integrity and legitimacy of our institutions. We respectfully ask for your prayers and support as our daughter and our family continue to heal.”
Attorney Benjamin Taylor, who represents the Bonner family, called for the officer to be fired and accused him of inappropriately touching Bonner. Taylor also condemned the amount of force shown during the arrest.
“This was very extreme, very excessive and there was no need for double pushes, jumping on top, and multiple strikes,” Taylor said. “The city of Tempe would be very vindictive to try to charge her again after they see what this officer did,” Taylor said.
Taylor specifically pointed to the end of the footage as another source of concern. “If you look at the end of the video, there’s some odd touching at the end of the video which is very concerning,” he said.
“At the end you see his hand go on her buttocks which is very odd in this situation,” Taylor said. His allegation adds another serious issue for investigators reviewing the officers’ actions.
Josh Logan, a former Chandler police officer and founder of Guardian Training and Consulting, said the use of force could be justified if the officer’s account that Bonner punched him is accurate. “If you reach that level of active aggression, you’re within policy to perform closed fist strikes to the face,” Logan told the outlet.
Still, Logan raised concerns about the moment Bonner was thrown onto the bicycle. “There’s so many dangerous things on that bicycle that can cut and scrape. I have scars from cogwheels to chains and everything in between.”
Logan said the movement happened during a rapidly unfolding confrontation. “It appears that she’s trying to move her off the bike and that happens in a split second in a very chaotic scene, and then they take her into custody and go from there,” Logan said.
The Tempe Police Department said an internal investigation into the incident is underway. Police also told ABC15 that the department takes “every allegation of officer misconduct seriously.”
“Consistent with our policies, this incident is currently under administrative review. The video of the incident, along with all other available evidence, will be carefully evaluated as part of that process,” the department told the outlet.
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