An atrocious video showing a Flagstaff Arizona police officer punching a restrained woman – without provocation – in the face, has surfaced. The video captures Officer Jeff Bonar arguing with a woman being restrained by another man, from behind. From what the video shows, the officer delivers a full fisted strike to the left side of the woman’s face and the woman’s family responding in horror. The officer has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of an investigation.
The victim was identified as 30-year-old Marissa Morris. Apparently, Bonar was there to oversee an eviction, when he saw Morris, who allegedly had a warrant several weeks prior. Without having any additional information, it appears that Bonar had detained Morris when the altercation occurred. Bonar claims that Morris kicked and kneed him prior to striking her, despite the fact that the video contradicts that. It is clear that there is some kind of struggle occurring, but at no time does it appear that Morris was physically aggressive toward Bonar.
The department was disturbed enough by the video to relieve Bonar of his police powers, at least temporarily. “I am as concerned with what is depicted in the video as I know many others are,” stated Flagstaff Police Chief Kevin Treadway. “I have heard your concerns, and the department is taking this incident very seriously.” According to Treadway, the incident was also captured on body camera, which most likely had an impact on the decision to relieve Bonar of his post. If the body camera footage had supported Bonar’s account of the incident, he would still have his badge today.
Once again, the problem here stems from the officer’s violation of standard police practices. The Use of Force Matrix is what is used to determine whether or not the force applied was warranted by the resistance level demonstrated by the subject. In this case, striking a restrained woman, even if there was provoation, is a violation of the matrix as the perceived threat did not warrant the force applied. While the Chief told the community what they wanted to hear, he proceeded to plea with the community not to rush judgment, as police chiefs always do in situations like this. “So often in cases like these, there is a rush to judgment and a call for immediate action. We owe Marissa, her family, the Flagstaff community, the officer and the department a full and complete investigation.”
Morris eventually calms down and succumbs to the officers taking her into custody. After being commanded to the ground, Bonar handcuffs her while she continues to scream, “ I didn’t do anything” and “I don’t have any warrants.” Danny Paredes, Morris’ boyfriend filmed the incident. “It was just shocking. I pulled out my camera immediately.” The vicious assault occurred in front of Paredes entire family including his 3 and 9-year-old children. An experience, he says, traumatized them.
Bonar has only been an officer with the department for just over three years, making him the latest in a long line of rookie cops demonstrating why we don’t trust police. The Chief requested the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office to handle a criminal investigation into Bonar’s actions. This is a good sign from the department showing they take the case seriously, and is ultimately saying that Bonar will be indicted if the Sheriff’s Office deems it so. As it turns out, Morris didn’t have any warrants after all, making this entire incident a civil rights case in the end. Morris has not made any statements about filing a law suit, however, with the video evidence as damning as it is, it seems likely one will follow.
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I hope this woman gets a good lawyer and sues the hell out of them. It would be great if she could get enough financial support to afford to get a hot Jewish Philadelphia lawyer to represent her. If that happened she might wind up with so much money that it would be about like winning the lottery.