An Arkansas State Police use-of-force report confirms that Trooper Moisses Arellano struck 18-year-old Alisa N. Hackett of Osceola in the face during a traffic stop on Aug. 1 near Manila, Arkansas. Video of the encounter has circulated widely online and been amplified by civil rights attorney Ben Crump and commentator Van Jones; the department's internal paperwork corroborates key details shown in the footage.
What the report and video show
According to the report obtained by NEA Report, Arellano stopped Hackett after recording her driving 71 mph in a 60 mph zone. Hackett told the trooper her car window was broken and that she was trying to get home. The encounter escalated after Arellano learned from a fellow trooper that Hackett had been stopped a few days earlier and received only a verbal warning for an open container. Arellano wrote that, based on that information, he determined a citation would not be sufficient and moved to make an arrest.
The report states Hackett exited the vehicle without incident. Arellano says that when he reached for her left hand, she turned toward him, repeatedly asked what she had done and pulled her hand away. He wrote that he took her to the ground and, because she would not roll onto her stomach, delivered a closed-fist blow to the left side of her face. He then drew his Taser, activated the laser sight, but did not deploy the device.
Dashcam audio and medical check
Dashcam audio captures Hackett crying out for help and asking the trooper to call her mother. In the recording she can be heard saying the trooper cannot punch her; the trooper replies dismissively and warns he will do it again if she does not comply. Emergency medical services examined Hackett after the incident; authorities reported no visible injuries, though she complained of pain.
Charges and public reaction
Hackett faces charges including refusal to submit to arrest, underage alcohol possession and speeding. Civil rights advocates and public figures who have amplified the video are calling for the Arkansas State Police Professional Standards Office to investigate and for public complaints demanding accountability. The central question raised by the footage and report remains whether a closed-fist strike to the face was a reasonable and proportionate response to an unarmed 18-year-old who resisted handcuffing.
Next steps
The Arkansas State Police Professional Standards Office is the usual channel for misconduct complaints; advocates are urging members of the public to file complaints there. The department's further findings, any internal review outcomes and whether prosecutors pursue additional action will determine the next developments in this case.
