Alisa Hackett, the 18-year-old woman involved in a traffic stop incident with an Arkansas State Police trooper, has retained national civil rights attorney Ben Crump. The announcement came hours after attorney Luther Sutter filed a federal civil rights lawsuit on Hackett’s behalf in the Jonesboro Division of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas.

Incident Details

The incident occurred on August 1 during a traffic stop near Manila. According to reports, Hackett was taken to the ground and punched in the face by the trooper. Crump is calling on Arkansas State Police to open a use-of-force investigation and release any previous use-of-force reports involving the trooper.

The lawsuit alleges excessive force and retaliation, claiming the trooper used gratuitous or punitive force against Hackett. The complaint argues that the trooper is not entitled to qualified immunity, a legal doctrine that can shield government officials from personal liability in civil lawsuits.

Lawsuit and Investigation

Hackett is seeking compensatory and punitive damages, attorney’s fees, expert fees, expenses, court costs, and interest. The complaint does not name Arkansas State Police or the state of Arkansas as defendants. The case is Hackett v. Arellano, No. 3:26-cv-00230.

Crump has represented several high-profile clients, including the families of Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, and Ahmaud Arbery. He has frequently handled cases involving allegations of police misconduct and racial injustice.

Original reporting: NEA Report (Jonesboro) — read the source article.