Justice for Alisa Hackett

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Justice for Alisa Hackett

The petition to Colonel Mike Hagar, Secretary of Public Safety and Director of the Arkansas State Police, and the Arkansas State Police Commission reads:

As mothers, women, and concerned community members, we demand a full, independent investigation into Arkansas State Trooper Moisses Arellano's use of force against 18-year-old Alisa Hackett, and that Trooper Arellano be fired.

On August 1, Alisa Hackett was trying to get home when Arkansas State Trooper Moisses Arellano pulled her over for allegedly driving 71 mph in a 60-mph zone with her hazard lights on. Alisa told him that her car window had been broken and that she was trying to get home.

What happened next was horrifying. Video footage shows Arellano forcing the 5-foot-1, 118-pound Black teenager to the ground. Then, while Alisa was beneath him, he punched her in the face with a closed fist.

Alisa can be heard crying, asking to call her mother, and repeatedly asking what she had done wrong. When she told Arellano, 'You cannot punch me in my face,' he responded: 'Said who? Who said I can't punch you in your face?' He then threatened to punch her again.

There is no dispute that Arellano struck Alisa. In his own use-of-force report, he acknowledged delivering a 'closed-fist strike' to her face, claiming he did so because the 118-pound teenager was not complying with his command to roll over onto her stomach.

Despite the video evidence and Arellano's own admission that he punched Alisa, he remains on active duty.

Alisa was an 18-year-old crying for her mother and asking what she had done wrong. She should have been treated like a scared teenager--not a threat.

We call on the Arkansas State Police and appropriate state authorities to:

Immediately remove Trooper Moisses Arellano from active duty and terminate his employment.

Ensure a full, independent investigation of his use of force against Alisa Hackett, conducted outside his chain of command.

Review Arellano's prior use-of-force history and make all legally releasable findings available to the public.

Take concrete steps to ensure Black women and girls are protected from discriminatory and excessive uses of force.

We demand justice for Alisa Hackett. Investigate what happened independently, make the findings public, and fire Trooper Moisses Arellano.