Arkansas State Police trooper punched 18-year-old woman in face during traffic-stop arrest

On August 1, 2026, Arkansas State Police Trooper Moisses Arellano stopped 18-year-old Alisa Hackett on State Highway 18 near Manila after clocking her driving 71 mph in a 60 mph zone with her hazard lights on; Hackett told him she was rushing home because her car window had broken. According to Arellano's own use-of-force report, after a second trooper told him Hackett had been stopped days earlier and remarked she "got an attitude, take her ass to jail," Arellano decided to arrest her rather than issue a citation. Hackett, who is 5-foot-1 and 118 pounds, stepped out of the vehicle without incident but began pulling away and repeatedly asking what she had done.

Arellano wrote that he took Hackett to the ground and, after she would not roll onto her stomach on his commands, "delivered one closed-fist strike to the left side of her face in an attempt to gain compliance." Dashcam footage of the stop captures Hackett telling Arellano "you cannot punch me in my face," to which he responds, "Who said? Who says I can't punch you in your face?" Arellano then pointed a stun gun at her without firing before she complied and was handcuffed; in the patrol car he can be heard warning her, "If you resist, I can punch you, I can read you the policy."

Hackett was booked into the Mississippi County jail at 12:51 a.m. on August 2 on five charges — improper display of tags, a vehicle-lamp violation, not wearing a seatbelt, possession of alcohol by a minor, and refusal to submit to arrest — none of which have been dropped.

Updates

2026-08-10 — Hackett filed federal civil rights lawsuit; Ben Crump retained hours later [3, 4]

Attorney Luther Sutter filed a federal civil rights lawsuit on Hackett's behalf in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas, Jonesboro Division (Hackett v. Arellano, No. 3:26-cv-00230). Hours later, Hackett notified Sutter she was terminating his representation and had retained civil rights attorney Ben Crump — known for representing the families of Trayvon Martin, George Floyd, and Breonna Taylor, among others — who called on Arkansas State Police to open a use-of-force investigation through its Office of Professional Standards, make any findings public, and release any prior use-of-force reports involving Arellano.

2026-08-11 — Video circulated publicly; Arkansas State Police declined to comment [1, 2]

Dashcam video of the stop circulated publicly on August 11, prompting public anger and renewed calls for a use-of-force investigation. Asked for comment, the Arkansas Department of Public Safety said its "long-held practice is not to comment on matters that are pending litigation" and did not say whether Arellano remains on active duty.

2026-08-24 — State Police director canceled testimony to Black Caucus over Hackett stop [5]

Arkansas State Police Director Col. Mike Hagar canceled his scheduled August 25 appearance before the Arkansas Legislative Black Caucus to discuss the Hackett stop, citing pending litigation: "it would be irresponsible and impossible for me to have an open discussion in a public setting." He offered to meet privately with individual lawmakers instead. Caucus chairman Rep. Jay Richardson said lawmakers would still meet as scheduled without him. NAACP Arkansas State Conference president Barry Jefferson said the meeting was not about seeking special treatment but "equal treatment, transparency, and accountability."