The Arkansas Legislative Black Caucus and the NAACP Arkansas State Conference are demanding accountability following a traffic stop where an Arkansas State Trooper allegedly punched an 18-year-old woman, an incident now drawing national scrutiny.
The traffic stop, which occurred on August 1 near Manila in Mississipi County, involved Arkansas State Police Officer Moisses Arellano and Alisa Hackett of Osceola. According to a federal lawsuit filed earlier this week, Hackett, a Black teenager, was stopped for speeding and subsequently thrown to the ground and punched in the face by Arellano during an attempted arrest. Dash camera footage, obtained via a public records request, reportedly shows the trooper committing the act.
Rep. Jay Richardson, a Democratic legislator from Fort Smith and chair of the Arkansas Legislative Black Caucus, said Tuesday that the video prompted his group to schedule a meeting with Arkansas State Police Director Col. Mike Hagar on Thursday. Hagar also serves as 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 told the Arkansas Advocate.
Cindy Murphy, a spokesperson for Arkansas State Police, confirmed Tuesday that Arellano remains on active duty. She added that all instances involving the use of force are subject to internal review by the agency.
In its statement, the NAACP Arkansas State Conference expressed concern over what it described as a traffic stop for a nonviolent offense escalating to physical violence. The organization is urging an independent investigation, the release of all video recordings linked to the incident, and a review of the charges against Hackett.
“Accountability is not an attack on law enforcement; it is essential to public trust,” the NAACP stated. “Officers who serve Arkansas honorably are best served by a system that investigates serious allegations fairly and transparently.”
Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, announced Monday as co-counsel for Hackett, has called for Arkansas State Police to conduct a public investigation through its Office of Professional Standards and to release any past records of use-of-force incidents involving Arellano.
“Arkansas State Police have to explain to the public how that is a reasonable response to a teenager at a traffic stop,” Crump said in a statement. “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 is known nationally for representing the families of high-profile civil rights cases, including George Floyd, whose death in 2020 during an encounter with Minneapolis police ignited widespread protests.
According to Hackett’s lawsuit, her constitutional rights were violated during the stop, including her right to be free from excessive force. The legal filing states she continues to endure physical pain, emotional distress, and fear of law enforcement resulting from the incident. The suit, brought by Little Rock attorney Luther Sutter alongside Crump, seeks compensatory and punitive damages, attorney’s fees, and a jury trial.
The case has heightened calls for transparency and reform in Arkansas law enforcement as the state grapples with public concerns over police accountability.