A Memorial Day outing at the Salt River’s popular Mudd Cliffs spot ended in chaos, with at least two people arrested and several deputies injured after what investigators describe as a violent confrontation in the water.
The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office says the confrontation began around 7 p.m. Sunday, when 22-year-old Beyonce Burruel allegedly got into an argument with another woman near the Mudd Cliffs, pulled her into the river, and sparked a scene that quickly spiraled, according to FOX 10 Phoenix. The victim later identified Burruel, and deputies ultimately arrested her along with a man who was at the scene, the station reports.
Authorities say that as deputies tried to interview Burruel, both she and the man interfered with the investigation and then began fighting with officers, injuring multiple deputies in the process, according to Arizona's Family. Officials said the deputies’ injuries were not life-threatening. Arizona's Family also reported that the arrests unfolded during a packed holiday weekend on the river that saw at least two separate drowning deaths.
What court documents say
Court filings reviewed by the station lay out the alleged assault in stark terms. The victim "explained that Beyonce pulled her hair and then held her underwater for approximately 30 seconds to one minute preventing her from breathing," the documents state, according to FOX 10 Phoenix. The records also say it took four deputies to get handcuffs on Burruel, that she slipped one cuff and continued to struggle, and that she later allegedly kicked at a patrol car door while in custody.
Charges and booking
Arizona's Family reports that Burruel was booked into the Maricopa County Jail on counts of assault and aggravated assault to impede breathing. The man, identified as 42-year-old Dario Burruel Jr., was booked on a charge of aggravated assault on a first responder. Authorities have not released detailed information on the deputies’ injuries, and court dates were not immediately available.
The allegations are based on booking records and court documents, and both defendants are presumed innocent unless and until they are proven guilty in court. Local outlets report that the information comes from sheriff’s office booking data and case filings, with additional details expected once further court records become public.
