Arkansas State Police director cancels appearance before Black lawmakers to discuss traffic stop

The head of Arkansas State Police said Monday he would be unable to appear before the Arkansas Legislative Black Caucus to discuss a state trooper punching an 18-year-old during a traffic stop because of pending litigation. 

Col. Mike Hagar had been scheduled to appear before the caucus Tuesday to discuss the Aug. 1 traffic stop of Alisa Hackett of Osceola that has drawn national attention and sparked a civil rights lawsuit. 

“I offered to meet privately with the Caucus to have an open and candid conversation about any public safety concerns they would like to discuss,” Hagar said in a statement released late Monday afternoon. “That offer stands, and I’d be very happy to talk individually with any legislator. Unfortunately, because of pending litigation, it would be irresponsible and impossible for me to have an open discussion in a public setting.” 

Rep. Jay Richardson, a Fort Smith Democrat and caucus chairman, said Monday that lawmakers would still meet at the scheduled time Tuesday.

According to a federal lawsuit filed earlier this month, Hackett was stopped near Manila 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. 

The Arkansas Legislative Black Caucus and NAACP Arkansas State Conference have called for answers over the traffic stop. A rally was planned in response to the meeting.

The NAACP Arkansas State Conference expressed its disappointment in Hagar’s decision in an emailed statement Monday. The meeting was “an important opportunity” for elected officials and the public to hear directly from Arkansas State Police and receive clarity regarding the traffic stop, the statement said. 

Barry Jefferson, president of the NAACP Arkansas State Conference, said this meeting is not about asking for special treatment, but rather “equal treatment, transparency, and accountability.”

“Alisa Hackett and her family deserve answers, and the taxpayers and elected officials of Arkansas deserve to know whether the policies and training of the Arkansas State Police were followed,” Jefferson said. “When a citizen has questions about an encounter with law enforcement, the answer cannot simply be silence.” 

Hagar “respectively communicated” to Richardson that he would be unable to appear before lawmakers as scheduled tomorrow, according to the release. Hagar said he hoped legislators would call on him, and he wanted to thank them in advance for understanding the position he’s in. 

“I understand and appreciate that our lawmakers have a duty to represent their constituents, and I know we share a common mission to keep Arkansans safe,” Hagar said.

Reporter Ainsley Platt contributed to this story.