Full Breakdown
Arkansas State Police Trooper Sued Over August 1, 2026 Traffic-Stop Assault
8/13/2026, 12:41:27 AM
Traffic Stop Escalates to Physical Assault
On August 1, 2026, Arkansas State Police Trooper Moisses Arellano stopped 18-year-old Alisa Hackett near Manila, Arkansas, for alleged speeding, failure to wear a seatbelt, and possession of an unopened bottle of alcohol. After issuing citations, Hackett questioned the stop and tossed the officer’s ticket clipboard. Arellano ordered her out of the vehicle, attempted to handcuff her, and, according to dash-cam video, slammed her to the ground and punched her in the face.
Background of the Stop
Arellano observed Hackett driving with hazard lights activated and recorded a speed of 71 mph in a 60-mph zone. Arkansas Code 3-3-203 makes a minor’s possession of alcohol a punishable offense, leading to citations for speeding, a seatbelt violation, and minor-in-possession. He also confiscated her license and issued a temporary 30-day permit.
Legal Complaint
Hackett filed a federal civil-rights lawsuit in the Jonesboro Division of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas. The complaint alleges excessive force in violation of her Fourth-Amendment rights, retaliation for protected speech under the First Amendment, battery, abuse of process, and other violations. The suit seeks compensatory and punitive damages, attorneys’ fees, and a jury trial. Civil-rights attorney Benjamin Crump is representing Hackett.
Official Statements & Responses
- “After giving multiple commands for her to roll over without compliance, I delivered one closed-fist strike to the left side of her face in an attempt to gain compliance,” — Moisses Arellano
- Benjamin Crump: “Arkansas State Police have to explain to the public how that is a reasonable response to a teenager at a traffic stop.”
- The Drew County NAACP branch called for the release of all unedited video, an independent investigation, and dismissal of the charges against Hackett.
Criticism & Opposition
Legal analysts cited the Supreme Court’s *Rodriguez v. United States* (2015) precedent, which bars extending a traffic stop without a new, independent reasonable suspicion of criminal activity. Because Arellano’s justification centered on Hackett’s “attitude,” critics argue the arrest likely violates that precedent. Criminal-defense attorney James White noted the trooper’s actions appear to exceed permissible authority.
Data & Statistics
- Speed recorded: 71 mph in a 60-mph zone
- Charges: speeding, seatbelt violation, improper license tags, improper use of emergency lights, minor-in-possession of alcohol, resisting arrest
- Injuries: facial strike and concussion-type symptoms reported by Hackett, requiring ambulance transport
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- The video shows Hackett repeatedly pleading, “This is illegal,” and requesting to call her mother, contradicting the trooper’s claim that she continued resisting after the initial strike.
- No independent investigation results have been released, leaving the factual basis for the trooper’s justification unresolved.
Verbatim Quotes
- “After giving multiple commands for her to roll over without compliance, I delivered one closed-fist strike to the left side of her face in an attempt to gain compliance,” — Moisses Arellano
- “Arkansas State Police have to explain to the public how that is a reasonable response to a teenager at a traffic stop.” — Benjamin Crump
- “This trooper slammed an 18-year-old girl to the ground and punched her in the face,” — Benjamin Crump
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The lawsuit and video have reignited debate over police use of force during routine traffic stops and the balance between law-enforcement authority and constitutional protections.
