Arkansas lawmakers, NAACP seek accountability over state trooper punching 18-year-old

The Arkansas Legislative Black Caucus and NAACP Arkansas State Conference are calling for answers about a traffic stop involving a state trooper punching an 18-year-old that has gained national attention. 

Rep. Jay Richardson, a Fort Smith Democrat and caucus chairman, told the Advocate Tuesday that the incident prompted lawmakers to schedule a meeting Thursday with Col. Mike Hagar, Arkansas State Police director and the state’s public safety secretary.

“I think anybody who’s seen the video understands that putting a fist to a young person, a young lady’s face is never acceptable,” Richardson said.

According to a federal lawsuit filed Monday, Alisa Hackett of Osceola was stopped near Manila on Aug. 1 for speeding by Moisses Arellano, an Arkansas State Police officer. 

Dash camera footage obtained through a public records request shows Arellano throwing Hackett, who is Black, to the ground while trying to handcuff her and then punching her in the face. 

Viewer Discretion: This video depicts a physical altercation. The video was obtained through a public records request and has been edited for brevity.

Cindy Murphy, a spokesperson for Arkansas State Police, confirmed Tuesday that Arellano is still on active duty, and that “all uses of force are reviewed internally.”

The NAACP Arkansas State Conference is calling for an independent investigation, release of all recordings and review of the charges stemming from the traffic stop. 

In a statement, the organization said it was “deeply concerned” that a traffic stop involving nonviolent offenses escalated into an arrest where Hackett was taken to the pavement and struck in the face by a state trooper. 

“Accountability is not an attack on law enforcement; it is essential to public trust,” the NAACP said. “Officers who serve Arkansas honorably are best served by a system that investigates serious allegations fairly and transparently.”

National civil rights attorney Ben Crump announced Monday that he was retained by Hackett in her lawsuit, which was originally filed by Little Rock attorney Luther Sutter. 

In a statement, Crump called on Arkansas State Police to open a use-of-force investigation through its Office of Professional Standards and make the findings public, and release any of Arellano’s prior use-of-force reports.

“Arkansas State Police have to explain to the public how that is a reasonable response to a teenager at a traffic stop,” Crump said. “If you cannot handle a teenage girl without taking her to the ground, cursing at her, and punching her in the face, you should not be wearing a badge.

Crump’s clients have included the family of George Floyd, the Black man killed by a white Minneapolis police officer in 2020. Floyd’s death sparked nationwide protests over policing and racial justice.

The lawsuit against Arellano argues Hackett’s constitutional rights to free speech and to be free from the use of excessive force during an investigatory stop, detention, or arrest were violated during the traffic stop. 

The lawsuit said Hackett continues to “suffer physical pain, humiliation, fear of law enforcement, anxiety, sleep disturbance, and emotional distress” from the arrest.

The suit seeks compensatory and punitive damages, attorney’s fees and a trial by jury.