University of Michigan police say they saw a student shove a woman to the ground during a free‑speech event on the Diag around 5:00 p.m. on Nov. 1, 2026. Officers arrested the student, processed her, and released her pending review by the Washtenaw County Prosecutor’s Office, according to the Nation Rise report summarizing police statements.
What police and video reportedly show
Video shared by media appears to show the shove and a brief scuffle during the campus event, aligning with what officers say they witnessed on scene. Police referred the case to prosecutors after the arrest.
Who the reports name
Reports identify the woman as Lizzy Benichou, a Jewish conservative commentator who said she was “physically assaulted” while exercising her First Amendment rights and that she would press charges. Local coverage cited that she was evaluated for soreness with no serious injury reported at that time.
Some outlets named the student as Temulun Togochog and alleged that threats were made during detention, including explicit talk about killing the victim. University police did not publicly release the student’s name in initial statements. In a Nov. 4 post on X, M.A. Rothman wrote that the student “shoved Jewish conservative activist Lizzy Benichou” and screamed, “I should have killed her.” These claims come from media and social‑media posts; they have not been confirmed here.
Prosecutors authorize three charges
By Nov. 3, the Washtenaw County Prosecutor’s Office authorized three charges tied to the incident, according to outlets cited by Nation Rise: one count of assaulting, resisting, or obstructing an officer and two counts of assault or assault and battery. A court will determine what happened and whether the evidence meets each charge’s elements.
What to watch
Key records to watch for include body‑camera footage, charging documents, court rulings on release conditions, and any university conduct proceedings. This article relies on the source’s attribution to police statements, media video, and other outlets; some details may be clarified as official records are released.
