ASU Senior Charged Over Viral Mill Avenue Arrest: What We Know About the Case

An Arizona State University senior is now facing criminal charges connected to an arrest that went viral over the summer. Eryn Bonner, a stunt team member at ASU, was charged in Tempe City Court with disorderly conduct and interfering with police after a July arrest on Mill Avenue. Video of the encounter spread fast online, showing an officer on top of Bonner before striking her. Tempe police say Bonner ignored commands to step back and struck the officer with her fists and legs, while her attorney argues the officer used excessive force and calls the charges vindictive.

The timeline is raising eyebrows. The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office declined to pursue felony charges, an initial misdemeanor was dismissed, and then charges were refiled two months later with an additional count. Bonner’s attorney wants the officer fired, the Tempe Officers Association supports the charging decision and opposes an outside review, and the Tempe Police Department is conducting its own internal review. A use-of-force expert weighs in that the full footage, not just the viral clip, is what matters most.

A pretrial conference is scheduled for Nov. 4, so this story is far from over. The bigger question sitting underneath all of it: when a clip goes viral, does the court of public opinion ever really wait for the facts? What do you think, should an outside agency review this case?