Arkansas trooper threw teen down and punched her in the face during traffic stop, lawsuit says

Key Points:

• Alisa Hackett, an 18-year-old Black woman, filed a federal lawsuit against Arkansas State Police trooper Moisses Arellano, accusing him of slamming her to the ground and striking her in the face during a traffic stop on August 1.
• The lawsuit claims Hackett was unarmed, posed no threat, and was stopped for a minor traffic offense; it alleges Arellano used excessive force because she questioned and resisted him.
• Arellano’s use-of-force report admits to delivering a closed-fist strike to Hackett’s face to gain compliance after she allegedly refused commands and resisted handcuffing.
• Attorney Benjamin Crump, representing Hackett, is calling for a use-of-force investigation and contends that the trooper initiated criminal charges to shield himself from liability and deter complaints.
• According to reports, Hackett was cited for multiple minor offenses, including speeding and possession of alcohol by a minor, and the trooper described her as argumentative and resistant during the stop.