Arkansas State Police Director Col. Mike Hagar announced Monday that he would not attend a scheduled public meeting with the Arkansas Legislative Black Caucus to discuss a controversial traffic stop involving an Arkansas State Trooper. Hagar cited pending litigation related to the incident as the reason for his decision.
The meeting, originally planned for Tuesday, was to address the August 1 traffic stop of 18-year-old Alisa Hackett in Mississippi County. Hackett, who is Black, was pulled over for speeding near Manila and was forcibly detained by Trooper Moisses Arellano. Dash camera footage obtained through a public records request reportedly shows Arellano throwing Hackett to the ground and punching her in the face during the arrest.
Hackett has since filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the state trooper and Arkansas State Police. The incident has drawn national attention, prompting demands for accountability and transparency from civil rights organizations such as the NAACP Arkansas State Conference and the Arkansas Legislative Black Caucus.
In a statement issued Monday, Hagar explained his decision to forego the meeting, stating, "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. 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, chairman of the Caucus and a Democrat from Fort Smith, confirmed that lawmakers still plan to meet at the scheduled time on Tuesday. The meeting was expected to serve as an opportunity for public officials to seek clarity on law enforcement policies and practices tied to the incident.
Barry Jefferson, president of the NAACP Arkansas State Conference, expressed disappointment with Hagar’s decision, calling the meeting "an important opportunity" for addressing the concerns of Hackett's family, state taxpayers, and elected officials. In a statement, Jefferson 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."
Hagar emphasized in his statement that he appreciates the role of lawmakers in representing their constituents and expressed a desire to work collaboratively to ensure the safety of Arkansans. He also thanked legislators in advance for understanding his decision to decline the public appearance.
The Caucus meeting took place as planned, with legislators and community advocates continuing to push for answers in Hackett's case. The NAACP Arkansas State Conference and other stakeholders have reiterated their call for transparency and accountability from law enforcement.