Arizona State University senior Eryn Bonner has been charged with misdemeanor disorderly conduct and hindering or interfering with police after a July confrontation in Tempe, Arizona. Newly released police video shows officers taking Bonner to the ground during an arrest involving two men who had been accompanying her. Bonner suffered bruises to her face, while police allege she interfered with the arrests and struck an officer. Maricopa County prosecutors declined to pursue felony charges.
| 1) | Charges filed against an Arizona State senior |
| 2) | What the July confrontation showed |
| 3) | Police account of the incident |
| 4) | Family and attorney respond |
| 5) | Felony case does not move forward |
Charges filed against an Arizona State senior
Eryn Bonner, an Arizona State University senior and cheerleader, was charged last week with misdemeanor counts of disorderly conduct and hindering or interfering with police. The charges stem from a July 19 incident in Tempe, where officers were arresting two men who had been with Bonner.
The case centers on whether Bonner interfered with officers during the arrests. Prosecutors in Maricopa County declined to move forward with felony charges, leaving the misdemeanor allegations as the charges currently reported against her.
What the July confrontation showed
Police video released after the incident shows officers confronting Bonner during the arrests. In the footage, one officer shoves her to the ground and then pins her against a police bicycle before she is arrested on a sidewalk.
Bonner can be heard shouting, “Let him go! Let him go!” as officers arrest the two men. The incident occurred in Tempe on July 19, 2026, and Bonner was reported to have suffered bruises to her face.
Police account of the incident
Surveillance footage from a nearby business captured events leading up to the police response. It shows Bonner and two male friends walking past a third man who was standing on a sidewalk. One of Bonner’s friends appeared to argue with that man, while the other tried to hold his companion back from a physical altercation.
Three bicycle officers saw the commotion from across an intersection and intervened moments later. Police allege that Bonner struck one of the officers while they were carrying out the arrests. The video and the competing accounts are central to public discussion of the encounter, but the reported charges remain misdemeanors.
Family and attorney respond
Attorney Benjamin Taylor, who represents Bonner, called for the arresting officer to be fired. He also released a statement on behalf of the Bonner family addressing the video and its effect on Bonner and her relatives.
“There are no words to fully describe the heartbreak of watching our daughter being hurt by someone entrusted to protect and serve our community,” the Bonner family said.
The family said it was especially difficult to see Bonner’s pain and sadness. It also said that expecting public servants to meet high professional standards is necessary to preserve public trust and the integrity of public institutions.
Felony case does not move forward
Maricopa County prosecutors declined to pursue felony charges against Bonner. The decision means the reported case proceeds, if at all, on the misdemeanor allegations of disorderly conduct and hindering or interfering with police.
The available footage includes both the events before officers arrived and the physical encounter during the arrests. It does not resolve the legal questions surrounding the alleged interference or the claim that Bonner struck an officer. Those issues will be addressed through the criminal case and any related review of the officers’ conduct.
| 1 | Eryn Bonner faces misdemeanor disorderly conduct and hindering or interfering with police charges. |
| 2 | The confrontation occurred during arrests in Tempe on July 19, 2026. |
| 3 | Police allege Bonner interfered with the arrests and struck an officer. |
| 4 | Video shows an officer pushing Bonner to the ground and pinning her against a police bicycle. |
| 5 | Maricopa County prosecutors declined to pursue felony charges. |
Summary
The case involving Eryn Bonner combines misdemeanor criminal allegations with scrutiny of police conduct captured on video. Authorities allege that the Arizona State cheerleader interfered with an ongoing arrest and struck an officer, while her attorney and family have criticized the force used against her. The reported decision not to pursue felony charges narrows the criminal case, but questions about the July encounter remain.
Frequently Asked Questions
What charges does Eryn Bonner face?
Bonner faces misdemeanor charges of disorderly conduct and hindering or interfering with police.
When and where did the confrontation occur?
The confrontation occurred on July 19, 2026, in Tempe, Arizona, during the arrest of two men who had been accompanying Bonner.
What does the video show?
The released police video shows an officer shoving Bonner to the ground and pinning her against a police bicycle before her arrest. Separate surveillance footage shows the events that preceded the police response.
Are felony charges being pursued?
Maricopa County prosecutors declined to move forward with felony charges against Bonner.
