The Viral Arrest of an 18-Year-Old Sparks Debate Over Police Conduct
A recent incident involving an Arkansas state trooper and an 18-year-old Black woman has reignited discussions about police conduct and racial bias. The situation unfolded when Alisa Hackett was pulled over for speeding and subsequently subjected to forceful arrest tactics, sparking widespread controversy.
Alisa Hackett, a resident of Osceola, Arkansas, was stopped by state trooper Moisses Arellano on August 1 while driving on State Highway 18. According to CBS News, she was cited for driving 71 mph in a 60-mph zone and having her hazard lights on. Hackett explained to the officer that her car window had broken, prompting her to rush home. Additional violations cited included not wearing a seat belt and having a covered license plate.
Despite these infractions, which typically result in traffic tickets, Hackett’s encounter with the police escalated. Dashcam footage revealed a sealed bottle of liquor in her car, leading Arellano to question her age, though he acknowledged the bottle was not open.
The situation intensified when another officer arrived, claiming Hackett had previously been stopped for speeding with an open alcohol container. However, the reason for her arrest was not linked to the alcohol but rather her perceived “attitude” during the stop.
Arellano then decided to arrest Hackett, who is 5-foot-1 and 118 pounds, and asked her to step out of the car, according to the report. After initially complying, “she began turning around and repeatedly asked what she had done,” the police report said, adding she continued to pull away from the officer and he “took her to the ground.”
“After giving multiple commands for her to roll over without compliance, I delivered one closed-fist strike to the left side of her face in an attempt to gain compliance,” Arellano wrote in the report. “After the strike, she continued resisting by pulling her wrists away and refusing to roll over.”
He pointed a stun gun at her midsection, but did not fire, and she then complied in putting her hands behind her back and she was arrested, the report said.
In the video, Hackett can be heard saying, “You cannot punch me in my face.” Arellano responds, “Who said? Who says?” and then “Who said I can’t punch you in your face?”
The arrest of Hackett, who was charged with several violations including refusal to submit to arrest and possession of alcohol by a minor, prompted a civil rights lawsuit against Arellano. Attorney Luther Sutter filed the lawsuit, alleging excessive force, while prominent civil rights attorney Ben Crump has also become involved in the case.
Crump stated, “This trooper slammed an 18-year-old girl to the ground and punched her in the face. He wrote it down himself: a closed fist, because she would not roll onto her stomach. Alisa asked him what she had done, and the video shows what she got for asking.”
The incident has raised questions about the appropriateness of the police response and the broader issues of racial bias in law enforcement. Observers are questioning why a routine traffic stop led to such an aggressive outcome, especially considering the nature of the infractions involved.
For more information, see related stories: PA Cop Harasses, Handcuffs Black Teen For Wearing Jacket On A ‘Warm Day’ and Michigan Cops Handcuff, Detain Black Teen, Claiming He ‘Looked’ Guilty.
