A Buckeye police officer has been indicted on aggravated assault charges after an independent investigation into two separate use-of-force incidents involving people in custody, according to a statement released Thursday by the Buckeye Police Department.
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Officer Carri Carrico was indicted Wednesday by a grand jury after an investigation conducted by the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office at the request of the Buckeye Police Department.
Buckeye Police Chief Robert Sanders said he requested the outside investigation in January after concerns arose regarding Carrico’s actions in the two incidents.
“As Chief of Police, I will always stand firm in supporting the men and women of the Buckeye Police Department who honorably serve this community and dedicate their lives to helping people,” Sanders said in the statement. “When an officer betrays community trust and Department values, I have a duty to pursue the facts and take action that is fair and just.”
According to court documents, one of the incidents occurred Nov. 1, 2025, after Carrico arrested a woman on suspicion of reckless driving and transported her to the Buckeye Police Department for booking.
Court documents state the woman, identified as V001, was handcuffed behind her back before being placed in a patrol vehicle and remained restrained after arriving at the station.
Investigators reviewed video recordings from Carrico’s Axon body-worn camera and interior surveillance cameras at the police department, according to court documents.
The court documents state that footage showed Carrico shoving the woman forward while attempting to restrain her to a booking bench. Court documents state the woman reacted by grabbing Carrico’s hand while still handcuffed behind her back.
InBuckeye made a public information request for the video footage on Thursday, but the Buckeye Police Department has not yet provided the footage.
According to court documents, Carrico then pulled her hand free and punched the woman on the right side of the face while the woman remained handcuffed.
The woman later told investigators she felt a “jab” to her face and saw “black and spots” for between 10 and 20 seconds after being struck, court documents state.
Investigators concluded there was no indication the woman attempted to assault Carrico or placed the officer in imminent danger, according to court documents. The woman was reportedly 37 weeks pregnant at the time of the incident and was transported to Abrazo West Hospital complaining of head pain.
The probable cause report submitted to prosecutors recommended a charge of aggravated assault, a Class 6 felony, under Arizona law prohibiting assault against a person who is bound or otherwise physically restrained.
Carrico is on leave without pay while the department’s Professional Standards Unit completes its own administrative investigations into the incidents, according to the department.
Sanders thanked the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office for conducting the investigation and emphasized that the conduct of one officer should not define the entire department.
“To our community, I urge you to judge the Buckeye Police Department not by the conduct of one individual, but by the character and professionalism demonstrated daily by the overwhelming majority of our officers,” Sanders said.
On July 1, 2025, the City of Buckeye honored Carrico "for DUI enforcement."
The Buckeye Police Department said additional information will be released as it becomes available.
