Former Arizona Democratic Party Vice Chair Brianna Westbrook faces felony charges after Phoenix police say she forced her way into a former partner’s home while carrying a knife and black tape.
12News reported officers responded July 10 to a disturbance near Indian School Road and 19th Avenue. The woman told police she opened the door believing her son was outside, but Westbrook allegedly pushed inside. Investigators said the two struggled before Westbrook pushed the woman onto a couch and ordered her not to move.
The woman’s sister entered after hearing screams. Court documents allege Westbrook then made a lunging motion with the knife toward both women before leaving the residence. Officers later detained Westbrook at her downtown Phoenix home. A search warrant reportedly recovered a knife, tape and gloves.
Phoenix New Times reported Westbrook was charged with third-degree burglary, aggravated assault involving a simulated deadly weapon and misdemeanor disorderly conduct. She was released after bond was set at $15,000.
Westbrook called the encounter a “big misunderstanding.” She told officers the knife was fake and claimed the visit was a planned role-playing scene connected to the former couple’s BDSM relationship. Westbrook said consent had been communicated through “subliminal messages” on Instagram. Her former partner denied agreeing to any reenactment, police said.
Westbrook is a longtime progressive activist who previously served as an Arizona Democratic Party vice chair. Federal Election Commission records show she ran in the 2018 Democratic primary for Arizona’s 8th Congressional District. She later sought an Arizona House seat in 2022 and was twice nominated to fill legislative vacancies, KTAR reported.
The charges remain pending. Westbrook is presumed innocent unless proven guilty, and available reports do not indicate she has been convicted in connection with the incident.
