Tempe police released video Tuesday of the July 19 arrest of 21-year-old Eryn Kelise Bonner on Mill Avenue in downtown Tempe. The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office declined to prosecute Bonner on felony charges of aggravated assault on a first responder and resisting arrest, citing “no reasonable likelihood of conviction,” officials said.
The arrest took place shortly after 1:45 a.m. on Sunday, July 19, 2026, on Mill Avenue in downtown Tempe, near the CASA and Sunbar nightclubs, according to Tempe police. Officers were responding to a reported fight outside a bar when the encounter with 21-year-old Eryn Kelise Bonner unfolded during efforts to break up the disturbance. Video footage that circulated on TikTok and other social media platforms showed several Tempe bike officers attempting to detain a man when Bonner approached, shouted at the officers, and was then pushed and taken to the ground by one of the officers, according to the viral video and police statements.
Following a review of the evidence, including police reports, body-worn camera footage, and witness accounts, the MCAO declined to prosecute Bonner, citing “no reasonable likelihood of conviction,” according to a statement provided to ABC15.
Bonner was arrested at the scene and booked into Tempe City Jail. Court records indicate she was initially charged with interference with a police investigation, aggravated assault on a police officer — classified as a first responder — and resisting arrest. Tempe police submitted felony charges of aggravated assault on a first responder and resisting arrest to the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office (MCAO), officials said.
As a result, no formal criminal case is currently moving forward against Bonner, despite the initial booking and submitted charges.
In response to the viral social media clip, the Tempe Police Department released edited body-worn camera footage from the officers involved. The department said the TikTok video captured only “part of a rapidly evolving encounter” and did not show the full context leading to the officer’s use of force. The released bodycam compilation includes multiple angles depicting officers breaking up the fight, Bonner’s approach and shouting, and the moment an officer pushes and tackles her to the ground, according to the department’s public statement.
Tempe police described the incident as involving crowd control outside busy Mill Avenue nightspots, which regularly draw thousands of people on weekend nights. The department confirmed it is conducting an internal administrative investigation to determine whether the officer’s actions complied with department policy on use of force. The review includes examination of body-camera video, witness statements, and additional evidence, officials said.
Court documents reviewed by ABC15 show the officer involved sustained visible injuries during the incident, including a superficial laceration approximately 3 to 4 inches long on the underside of his left forearm and smaller lacerations on the inside of his right wrist. These injuries were cited by Tempe police as the basis for submitting felony charges of aggravated assault on a first responder and resisting arrest against Bonner.
Following her arrest, Bonner was placed under electronic monitoring and curfew restrictions, reflecting the seriousness of the felony allegations, according to court records. She was scheduled for a status conference on August 3 and a preliminary hearing on August 6, as reported by FOX 10 Phoenix. However, with the MCAO’s decision not to file charges, those hearings are not expected to lead to formal prosecution.
The case highlights the standard procedure in Maricopa County, where police submit charges but prosecutors independently assess the evidence to determine whether there is a reasonable likelihood of conviction before pursuing criminal charges. The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office emphasized that its decision was based on legal assessment rather than public reaction.
The incident has drawn attention amid ongoing scrutiny of law enforcement practices on Mill Avenue, a high-traffic entertainment corridor in Tempe. The area regularly sees deployment of bike patrol officers for crowd management and rapid response. Earlier this year, a deadly shooting on March 28 that killed 22-year-old Jacob Jaime intensified public and police focus on the area. Tempe police arrested 23-year-old Aidan Zepeda on March 29 on multiple homicide-related charges in connection with that shooting.
Despite the heightened attention, Tempe police have stated that their bike patrols will continue patrolling downtown and that there is no ongoing public threat related to the shooting as investigations proceed. The viral arrest video and the MCAO’s decision to decline charges have contributed to ongoing discussions about police conduct and prosecutorial scrutiny of encounters in the busy nightlife district.
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