The Arkansas Legislative Black Caucus and the NAACP Arkansas State Conference are seeking answers and accountability over an incident in which an Arkansas State Trooper was captured on video punching an 18-year-old during a traffic stop. The Aug. 1 encounter near Manila has drawn national attention as video footage from the scene has circulated widely.
The trooper, Moisses Arellano, stopped Alisa Hackett of Osceola for speeding, according to a federal lawsuit filed Monday. The dashboard camera footage, obtained via public records request, shows Arellano pushing Hackett to the ground while attempting to handcuff her and striking her in the face. Hackett, who is Black, alleges in the lawsuit that her constitutional rights were violated.
Rep. Jay Richardson, a Democrat from Fort Smith and chairman of the Arkansas Legislative Black Caucus, told the Arkansas Advocate that the incident prompted lawmakers to schedule a meeting with Col. Mike Hagar, Director of the Arkansas State Police and Secretary of Public Safety. Although originally set for this week, the meeting was rescheduled for Aug. 25 to allow more time for the ongoing investigation to develop. “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 on Tuesday.
Cindy Murphy, spokesperson for the Arkansas State Police, confirmed that Arellano remains on active duty. She added that all use-of-force incidents are subject to internal review. The NAACP Arkansas State Conference, however, has called for an independent investigation, the release of all related recordings, and a thorough review of the charges stemming from the traffic stop. In a statement, the group expressed concern that a nonviolent traffic stop escalated to the use of force. “Accountability is not an attack on law enforcement; it is essential to public trust,” the statement read.
Nationally renowned civil rights attorney Ben Crump announced Monday that he has been retained to represent Hackett. Crump, whose clients have included the family of George Floyd, issued a statement calling on Arkansas State Police to make the findings of its Office of Professional Standards investigation public and to release any prior use-of-force reports associated with 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. “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.”
The lawsuit, originally filed by Little Rock attorney Luther Sutter, alleges that Hackett now suffers physical pain, humiliation, as well as emotional and psychological distress caused by the altercation. It seeks compensatory and punitive damages, attorney’s fees, and a jury trial.
The NAACP emphasized that fair and transparent investigations are vital for maintaining public trust and ensuring officers who serve the state honorably are not undermined. The organization reiterated its call for unbiased inquiries into allegations of misconduct involving law enforcement.
The incident remains under scrutiny as state officials and civil rights organizations push for further action.