18-Year-Old Slammed to Ground and Punched in Face: Lawsuit Filed Against US Police Officer

Alyssa Hackett, an 18-year-old Black woman, has filed a lawsuit against an Arkansas police officer, Moses Arriano, alleging he attacked her during a traffic stop on August 1. The assault video went viral. The officer admitted to punching her in the face after she failed to comply with his orders. Attorney Ben Crump is representing her.

Alyssa Hackett, an 18-year-old Black woman, has filed a lawsuit against Arkansas police officer Moses Arriano, alleging he attacked her during a traffic stop. The lawsuit was filed last Monday, following an incident that occurred on August 1 near Manila, Mississippi County. Hackett was stopped for speeding: 71 mph (about 114 km/h) in a 60 mph (about 96 km/h) zone, with her hazard lights on. According to the police report, the young woman explained she was rushing home because her car window was broken. The officer noted she was not wearing a seatbelt, the license plate was obscured, and a closed bottle of alcohol was found in the front seat. After consulting with another officer who said, "She has nerve, take her to jail," Arriano decided to arrest her. In the video, Hackett is seen exiting the car and asking what she is being stopped for, and in response, the officer forcefully slammed her to the ground. In his report, he admitted: "I delivered one blow with a closed fist to the left side of her face in order to gain compliance." Her attorney, Ben Crump, said the Arkansas police must explain how this is a reasonable response. The Arkansas Department of Public Safety said it is customary not to comment on pending litigation.