Black Woman Professor Slammed to the Ground and Arrested on ASU Campus

Dr. Ersula Ore, a professor of English at Arizona State University, claims a police officer used excessive force during a stop last month.

Dr. Ore was stopped by Officer Stewart Ferrin while a crossing a street on the University's campus. The recently released video depicts the exchange. Ore was arrested. During the process, she was slammed on the hood of a car exposing her body. Ore was charged with aggravated assault on a police officer in addition to criminal damage and obstructing a thoroughfare. She intends to fight the charges.

Here's a transcript of what happened:

“The reason I’m talking to you right now is because you are walking in the middle of the street,” Ferrin explained.

The exchange soon turned heated.

“Let me see your ID or you will be arrested for failing to provide ID,” Ferrin said.

“Are you serious?” Ore asked.

“Yes, I am serious. That is the law,” Ferrin replied.



“I never once saw a single solitary individual get pulled over by a cop for walking across a street on a campus, in a campus location. Everybody has been doing this because it is all obstructed. That’s the reason why,” Ore said to the officer. “But you stop me in the middle of the street to pull me over and ask me, 'Do you know what this is? This is a street.' ”

“Are you aware that this is a street?” Ferrin asked.

“Let me finish,” Ore said.

“OK, put your hands behind your back,” Ferrin said.

“Don't touch me,” Ore said. “Get your hands off me.”

Ferrin then proceeded to place Ore under arrest.

“Put your hand behind your back. I’m going to slam you on this car. Put your hand behind your back,” Ferrin said.

“You really want to do that? Do you see what I’m wearing? Do you see?” Ore said.

ASU released this statement to a local Arizona news station:

ASU authorities have reviewed the circumstances surrounding the arrest and have found no evidence of inappropriate actions by the ASUPD officers involved. Should such evidence be discovered, an additional, thorough inquiry will be conducted and appropriate actions taken.

Because the underlying criminal charges are pending, there is not much more we can say at this time. The Maricopa County Attorney's Office has reviewed all available evidence, including the police report, witness statements, and audio and video recordings of the incident, and decided to press criminal charges of assaulting a police officer, resisting arrest, refusing to provide identification when requested to do so by an officer, and obstructing a highway or public thoroughfare.

The video is disturbing, and you can watch it below.
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Kimberly Foster is the founder and editor of For Harriet. Email or Follow @KimberlyNFoster