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Tempe city prosecutors filed two misdemeanor charges against Arizona State University senior Eryn Bonner, according to an October 2 report: disorderly conduct for fighting and hindering or interfering with police. Her attorney, Benjamin Taylor, called the case a “political prosecution.” That is his allegation—not a court finding. The available reporting does not establish the case’s current court status or outcome.
What charges were filed against Eryn Bonner?
The October 2 report says Tempe prosecutors filed two misdemeanors in Tempe City Court: disorderly conduct for fighting, and hindering or interfering with police. The report does not establish whether the counts have since changed. No docket number, plea, hearing date, or final disposition was available in the reporting reviewed.
Why does Bonner’s lawyer call it a political prosecution?
Taylor said the police union had pressed city leadership to bring charges, and characterized the filing as capitulation to that pressure. Those are claims by Bonner’s lawyer; the available reporting does not independently establish that political influence drove the decision.
Tempe Officers Association president Robert Ferraro defended the filing, saying it aligned with what he described as the complete video evidence. His statement is the union’s position, not a court or investigative finding. Tempe communications director Kris Baxter declined to comment on the accusation of political motivation, according to the October 2 report.
How did the case reach city court?
The misdemeanor filing followed a separate earlier review. Phoenix New Times reported on July 23 that Tempe police had submitted felony charges to the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, which declined that submission. The outlet quoted a county attorney spokesperson: “It was determined there was no reasonable likelihood of conviction.” That decision concerned the felony submission; it was not a ruling on the later city misdemeanor case.
In August, Phoenix New Times reported that the city was reviewing charges after the county attorney’s decision. Coverage at that stage discussed a wider set of possible charges. That earlier review should not be confused with the two-count filing reported on October 2.
What is known about the arrest?
Phoenix New Times reported that Bonner was arrested outside C.A.S.A. on Mill Avenue in the early morning of July 19, 2026, while Tempe officers were arresting two men after encountering a physical altercation. The outlet described video showing Bonner calling for officers to release her friend, an officer ordering her to back up, and the officer shoving her, taking her down over a bicycle, and punching her. These are descriptions in the reporting, not adjudicated findings about anyone’s conduct.
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Tempe police said the circulated footage “raises understandable concerns,” while also saying it did not show the full context. The department said its review would examine the actions of everyone involved and the totality of the circumstances. The reporting available here does not establish the investigation’s final findings.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What remains unconfirmed?
- The Tempe City Court case number, next hearing date, current plea, and present status are not established by the available reporting.
- No conviction, dismissal, or final court ruling is established.
- The county attorney’s earlier decision not to prosecute the felony submission does not decide the later misdemeanor case.
- The October 2 report appeared on Phoenix Relocation News and closely resembles Phoenix New Times reporting, but the original publisher of that October report was not independently established.
The July coverage describes the arrest as occurring early on July 19, while also referring to a “July 18 incident.” Without a primary record to resolve the date label, the safest description is the early morning of July 19 as reported, or simply that the arrest occurred in July.
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