Video shows Tempe police shoving and striking ASU cheerleader Eryn Bonner during July arrest
Police and surveillance video of a July 19 arrest in Tempe, Arizona, shows an officer pushing ASU cheerleader Eryn Bonner to the ground and pinning her on a bicycle. She faces two misdemeanor charges, her family's lawyer wants the officer fired, and police are reviewing the incident.
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The story, neutrally told
Right · 2Video released this week shows Tempe, Arizona, police officers shoving Arizona State University senior Eryn Bonner to the ground and pinning her on a police bicycle during an arrest in the early morning of July 19. Fox NewsR “video of which shows one of the officers shove her to the ground and then pin her to a police bicycle before arresting her on the sidewalk” Read at Fox News ↗ New York PostR “was seen in the early morning of July 19, reapproaching officers who were arresting another individual” Read at New York Post ↗ Right · 2Bonner, a member of the ASU Stunt team, suffered bruises to her face. New York PostR “Bonner, a member of the ASU Stunt team” Read at New York Post ↗ Fox NewsR “ASU senior Eryn Bonner suffered bruises to her face after the July 19 incident” Read at Fox News ↗ Right · 1The New York Post said the footage, which includes bodycam video, appears to show the officer punching her before a second officer handcuffed her. New York PostR “shows the officer then toss her onto a bicycle and restrain her — appearing to punch her before another officer swoops in to cuff her” Read at New York Post ↗
Right · 2Bonner can be heard screaming "Let him go! Let him go!" as police arrested men who were with her. The New York Post describes one individual and Fox News describes two male friends. Fox NewsR “Bonner could be heard screaming, "Let him go! Let him go!" as police arrested two men who had been accompanying her.” Read at Fox News ↗ New York PostR “reapproaching officers who were arresting another individual after being told to get back” Read at New York Post ↗ Right · 1Fox News reported that surveillance footage from a nearby business shows Bonner and two male friends walking past a third man, after which one friend appeared to argue with him while the other tried to hold him back, and three police officers on bicycles intervened. Fox NewsR “A trio of police officers on bicycles saw the commotion from across an intersection and intervened moments later.” Read at Fox News ↗ Right · 2Tempe police allege Bonner punched an officer multiple times; Fox News says police allege she struck an officer. New York PostR “Tempe police allege that Bonner punched an officer multiple times” Read at New York Post ↗ Fox NewsR “Police say Bonner allegedly struck one of the officers as they were carrying out arrests of her two friends.” Read at Fox News ↗
Right · 2Bonner was charged last week with misdemeanor counts of disorderly conduct and hindering or interfering with police. The Maricopa County Attorney's Office declined to pursue felony charges, and the New York Post said police would not resubmit them. New York PostR “The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office has declined to pursue felony charges against Bonner, and cops told the outlet that they would not resubmit the felony charges.” Read at New York Post ↗ Fox NewsR “Bonner was charged last week with misdemeanor counts of disorderly conduct and hindering or interfering with police.” Read at Fox News ↗ Right · 2The Bonner family said in a statement to ABC15 that they felt "heartbreak of watching our daughter being hurt by someone entrusted to protect and serve our community" and that expecting public servants to meet high standards is "not an act of animosity toward those who serve with honor." New York PostR “Expecting public servants to live up to the highest standards of their profession is not an act of animosity toward those who serve with honor.” Read at New York Post ↗ Fox NewsR “in a statement to ABC15” Read at Fox News ↗ Right · 2The family's attorney, Benjamin Taylor, has called for the officer to be fired. He called the force "very extreme, very excessive" and said Tempe would be "vindictive" to charge her again. New York PostR ““This was very extreme, very excessive and there was no need for double pushes, jumping on top and multiple strikes,” Taylor said.” Read at New York Post ↗ Fox NewsR “called for the arresting officer to be fired” Read at Fox News ↗
Right · 1Taylor also said the officer's hand touched her buttocks at the end of the video, which he called "very odd" and "very concerning"; this is the attorney's characterisation and the police have not been quoted responding to it. New York PostR “At the end you see his hand go on her buttocks which is very odd in this situation.” Read at New York Post ↗ Right · 1Josh Logan, a former Chandler police officer, told ABC15 that if the officer's account of being punched is true, closed-fist strikes to the face are likely within policy. He also noted concerning aspects, such as her being thrown onto a bicycle. New York PostR “If you reach that level of active aggression, you’re within policy to perform closed fist strikes to the face”“pointed to concerning aspects of the video, including the split-second moment she is thrown onto a bicycle” Read at New York Post ↗ Right · 1The Tempe Police Department said the incident is under administrative review and that it takes "every allegation of officer misconduct seriously." It said the video and other evidence will be evaluated. New York PostR “this incident is currently under administrative review. The video of the incident, along with all other available evidence, will be carefully evaluated as part of that process” Read at New York Post ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre1 outlet
No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Right2 outlets
- Framing
- Both outlets lead with the viral video of police force on a college cheerleader, giving the family's statement and the attorney's call for the officer's firing, alongside the police allegation and the charges. The New York Post uses more vivid language and adds an outside expert's view; Fox News is more procedural and adds the surveillance lead-up.
- Emphasis
- The Post stresses the force used, the attorney's accusation of inappropriate touching and the police review. Fox stresses the charges, the surveillance footage showing the lead-up, and the allegation that she struck an officer.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Fox does not mention the internal police review or the touching allegation. Neither outlet quotes Bonner herself or an officer's account in detail.
- Charged language
- “violently slammed”“pummeled”“blistering statement”“harrowing video”
- For example
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“violently slammed to the ground and pummeled on top of a bicycle by cops” — New York Post
“Her family released a blistering statement to the outlet” — New York Post
“Newly released police video shows officers throwing an Arizona State University cheerleader to the ground” — Fox News
What every side reports
- The incident occurred on July 19 in Tempe, Arizona, and involved ASU senior Eryn Bonner.
- Video shows an officer pushing Bonner to the ground and pinning her on a police bicycle.
- Bonner faces misdemeanor charges of disorderly conduct and hindering or interfering with police; felony charges were declined.
- Attorney Benjamin Taylor has called for the officer to be fired.
- Police allege Bonner struck an officer.
Where accounts differ
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Whether the force used was justified
- Right
- The New York Post says the officer appeared to punch her and quotes the family's attorney calling the force excessive, but also quotes a former officer saying strikes are within policy if she punched the officer. Fox News reports the throw and her bruises and the police allegation without assessing the force.
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Whether Bonner struck an officer
- Right
- Police allege she punched an officer multiple times (New York Post) or struck an officer (Fox News). The coverage does not show Bonner or her lawyer responding to this allegation. The outlets describe the video without confirming it.
Arizona State University organisation
Neither article quotes the university; Bonner is identified as an ASU senior on its Stunt team.
“Bonner, a member of the ASU Stunt team” — New York Post
Tempe, Arizona place
Tempe police say they allege Bonner punched an officer, have charged her with two misdemeanors, and are reviewing the incident administratively. They say they take misconduct allegations seriously.
“Consistent with our policies, this incident is currently under administrative review.” — New York Post
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre1 article
Right2 articles
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Viral video captures Arizona State University cheerleader being shoved to ground, pummeled by cops
Critical Leads with the force used on Bonner in vivid terms, giving the family's and attorney's accounts, with police and an ex-officer's more cautious views later.
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Arizona State cheerleader charged after confrontation with police caught on viral video
Neutral Reports the video, charges and family statement in a more procedural way, adding surveillance context of the lead-up and the police allegation.
- 5 Oct 05:00 First New York PostR Viral video captures Arizona State University cheerleader being shoved to ground, pummeled by cops
- 5 Oct 13:27 +8h 27m Fox NewsR Arizona State cheerleader charged after confrontation with police caught on viral video
- 5 Oct 14:05 +9h 4m The Times of IndiaN Eryn Bonner: Arizona State cheerleader slammed to the ground by cops in viral video, charged for hindering police
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.