An Arkansas teenager has filed a lawsuit against a state trooper for allegedly using excessive force during a traffic stop. The 18-year-old, Alisa Hackett, claims that Trooper Moisses Arellano punched her in the face and slammed her to the ground after she questioned the basis for the stop.

Incident Details

According to the lawsuit, Arellano pulled Hackett over on August 1 for speeding and having her hazard lights on. When Hackett was found to have a cold bottle of liquor in her car, Arellano decided to arrest her. The lawsuit states that Hackett pulled away, and Arellano took her to the ground, delivering one closed-fist strike to the left side of her face.

The incident was captured on Arellano’s dash camera footage, which shows him placing his arms under Hackett’s and spinning her, flinging her to the pavement. Arellano stays kneeling over Hackett, who struggles for about 10 seconds before he punches her in the head.

Lawsuit Claims

The lawsuit seeks compensatory and punitive damages, claiming that Arellano used excessive force in violation of the Fourth Amendment and retaliated against Hackett in violation of the First Amendment. Hackett’s lawyer argues that Arellano’s actions were not justified, as Hackett was unarmed and posed no threat to the trooper.

The Arkansas State Police have stated that they are reviewing the use of force, but Arellano is not currently on leave. The lawsuit is ongoing, and the outcome is yet to be determined.

Original reporting: Texarkana Gazette — read the source article.