In another eyebrow-raising incident out of Arizona, English professor Dr. Ersula Ore was confronted by Arizona State University police for walking down the middle of an obstructed street, resulting in an arrest for assault and other charges.
Video of the May incident has just been released to Phoenix’s 3TV. The footage shows Ore and officer Stewart Ferrin (both pictured in the image above) in a heated exchange in which Ferrin demands to Ore: “Let me see your ID or you will be arrested for failing to provide ID.” When Ore continues to question Officer Ferrin about singling her out for crossing a street she claimed almost everyone did regularly due to construction, he tells her “Put your hand behind your back. I’m going to slam you on this car.” Shortly thereafter, he proceeds to do so and, because Ore is wearing a black dress, parts of her body are publicly exposed.
Backing the officer, ASU issued the following statement to 3TV:
“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.”
Ore, whose research interests include cultural studies, is claiming self-defense. According to her attorney, Alane Roby, the self-defense claim is based on the fact that “her dress was up” and “the officer was reaching toward her anatomy,” which made her “uncomfortable with hands going there.”