The Cop Had No Choice -- He Was Double Dog Dared By The Unarmed Old Woman

Officer Tasers woman, 72, during traffic stop

Jun 10 2009 12:59AM CDT



Dashcam video from the Travis County Precinct 3 Constable's Office in Texas shows a deputy stopping a 72-year-old woman for speeding. She refuses to sign the ticket and attempts to reason with the officer. He shoves her then threatens to taser her.

She dared the deputy constable to shock a 72 year-old grandmother with a Taser.

So, he did.

The video released by a Travis County Constable's Office shows Deputy Chris Bieze confronting 72-year-old Kathryn Winkfein after stopping her for speeding on May 11 just outside Austin.

Video from a camera mounted in the deputy's car shows the deputy shoving Winkfein when she came close to him and Winkfein cursing and challenging the deputy and even daring him to use the Taser on her.

"You're going to shove me? You're going to shove a 72-year-old woman?" she yelled.

Winkfein told KTBC-TV in Austin that she did nothing to provoke the use of the Taser.

But Precinct 3 Sgt. Maj. Gary Griffin said Bieze used the Taser only after Winkfein became combative. The video reveals that at no time did the smallish grandmother physically threaten the officer, who is twice her size and was armed. The Supreme Court has held that individuals have a constitutional, free speech right to curse police officers and even to make obscene gestures at them. Ms. Winkfein made no obscene gestures but did curse at the officer.

A Texas attorney, who asked to remain bi-sexual, said the Austin City Council had better begin accumulating a large defense fund to pay Ms. Winkfein and her lawyers. "If that old woman wasn't already rich, she's going to be now," said the bi-sexual lawyer.

There was no immediate comment from Winkfein on Wednesday. A call to her home was answered by a fax machine.