Tempe Arizona – Dr. Ersula Ore is a professor at Arizona State University (ASU) and was heading across campus on May 20. The crosswalk she was taking was obstructed by ongoing construction and she thought nothing of it to circumvent the construction and cross from the middle of the street.
It’s was a matter of simple logistics as the crosswalk was not accessible and plenty of other adults did the same thing. However, an ASU police officer by the name of Stewart Ferrin thought otherwise. He stopped Dr. Ore and requested she provide identification. Incredulous at the request, she explained why she crossed the street at the point in which she did.
Officer Ferrin would tolerate no such discussion. After condescendingly telling her it was a matter of the law and he would undertake to explain that to her, he thrust the African-American woman to the ground and began to subdue her with the aid of another officer. In the resulting scuffle, her dress became undone immodestly. Passersby phoned 911 out of concern they were witnessing police brutality.
Officer Ferrin asserts that as he was taking down the university professor she kicked him just below the knee. He is charging her with assaulting a police officer. The video of the incident has been made public. Dr. Ore isn’t going to go quietly away nor will she allow herself to be charged with committing any crime. She has retained a lawyer.
As the ASU police department, they have sided with Officer Ferrin and stated he did nothing wrong in how he handled the matter.