ASU professor arrested by police files $2M claim

Arizona State University is facing a $2 million legal claim from the university professor who says she was falsely arrested by a campus police officer last summer.

ASU Assistant Professor Ersula Ore filed a notice of claim in November, the first step toward a potential lawsuit, according to documents obtained by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com under a public-records request. The claim accuses officer Stewart Ferrin of excessive force, false arrest and violation of her federal rights to due process.

The claim says Ore suffered financial, emotional and psychological damages as a result of the May 20 arrest and she feels degraded and humiliated.

"She also continues to suffer from confusion and anxiety that she is not safe in the presence of uniformed officers," the claim says.

The officer's attorney, Mel McDonald, has maintained his client did nothing wrong. Ferrin was notified last week that ASU intends to fire him. He is appealing the decision. A newly launched Facebook page called "Support Officer Stewart Ferrin" has more than 2,000 likes.

Ore's attorney, Daniel Ortega, said his client will pursue a legal case regardless of the outcome of the officer's termination hearing.

"In all honesty, it would be more favorable to my client's case if he was terminated," Ortega said.

Ore was arrested when she refused to show identification and reportedly kicked Ferrin in the shin after he stopped her for jaywalking near College Avenue and Fifth Street in Tempe, according to a police report.

The incident drew nationwide attention after a video of the arrest, showing the two arguing and struggling, went viral. Civil-groups claimed Ore was targeted for her race. She is Black.

Dashboard camera video of the arrest shows Ferrin repeatedly telling Ore to put her hands behind her back. When she refuses, he tells her he will "slam" her on the police car, according to the video. Footage shows the officer tackling her to the ground.

The claim says Ore wore a dress that evening and when she was tackled to the ground, "the entire lower half of her body, including her buttocks, was exposed for all bystanders to view."

She was arrested on charges of aggravated assault on a police officer, criminal damage, refusal to provide truthful name and obstructing a public thoroughfare. She later pleaded guilty to one count resisting arrest and was sentenced to nine months probation; the other charges were dropped.

Ore's legal claim says she has suffered from depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, irritability and panic attacks.

The arrest created "uncertainty" about her employment at ASU, the claim says. ASU first released a statement, saying it found no wrongdoing on the part of Ferrin, the claim said.

A summer class she was contracted to teach was reassigned, the claim says. The university provost then circulated a statement in support of Ore, and she received the course she was contracted to teach back.

ASU and the Arizona Board of Regents, who are both named in the claim along with the officer, declined comment. ASU spokesman Mark Johnson said the university is reviewing the claim. Regents spokeswoman Katie Paquet said the office does not respond to notices of claim relating to university matters.

Reach the reporter at 602-444-8072 or anne.ryman@arizonarepublic.com