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72-Year-Old Woman Tasered: Kathryn Winkfein Tased By Texas Police
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by Jon Azpiri | June 10, 2009 at 08:59 am
10279 views | 62 Recommendations | 66 comments
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A 72-year-old grandma was tasered by police in Texas during a routine traffic stop.
Kathryn Winkfein was pulled over for doing 60 MPH in a 35 MPH zone. Austin police claim that Winkfein shouted profanities and attacked an officer, at which point she was tased.
The 72-year-old taser victim denies the charges.
"I wasn't argumentative, I was not combative. This is a lie. All of this is a lie, pulled away from him I did not," she said, reading the arrest affidavit.
Raw video of the incident shows Winkfein saying "I dare you" after a police officer threatens to tase her. Winkfein then tries to get back into her car before the officer tases the grandma.
Here is a larger version of the 72-year-old tasered video.
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Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (66)
at 09:14 on June 10th, 2009
I watched the video on the news and it does not show the type of disobedience or resistance that is described in the Austin newspaper that is being alleged by the police officer involved.
here
In any case this woman in the video appeared to be elderly and not very stable and even if she swore at him that is not reason to take the chance of tasing her at her age and with her obvious agility issues.
at 14:50 on June 11th, 2009
If you have watched the interview in full you can see very plainly that the police provided Ms. Winkfein with over 5 chances to step away (because she was not being compliant and the officer was trying to get her away from the road and away from the vehicle after she dared him over and over to tase her) and was not at fault nor should be bashed for his actions.
After the interview Ms. Winkfein made from reading the "alleged" police report she says that she wasn't argumentative... Maybe that was the lawyer in her trying to BS her way through as she proceeded legal suit against the police department. It is fortunate for the Officer and the Austin police station that the camera did catch her unruly behavior as the evidence is very clear that this officer would be cleared of any charges.
at 09:20 on July 28th, 2009
Are you insane? She's in her 70s, the worst she's guilty of is being difficult, and speeding, none of which are cause for an electrocution. At no point is she a threat to an able-bodied police officer. There is NO reason to taser her - if you need to taser an old woman you aren't level-headed enough to be a police officer and use other methods first. A taser isn't like a water gun. Go get tasered and tell me it's a reasonable measure in that situation. You definitely won't.
at 08:18 on August 14th, 2009
This is BS. I'm so sick of Cops and Cop lovers talking about how this was justified. Yes she was belligerent yes she was disobeying but what part of a 72 years old woman don't you understand. That man was at-least 250lbs he could have easily subdued her without using a life threatening device. Cops are using tasers more and more and as such they are using them when a simple use of strength would suffice. There ARE litigate uses for a TASER but a meek 72 year old woman is NOT one of them. This is one more in a long history of flaws in the personality of law enforcement's do what I say or else attitude.
To be clear I don't advocate a ban on the Taser's use for its usefulness against proper targets is an undenaible asset to law enforcement however don't use it against people who are clearly not a threat. He did this simply because she was not complying wiht his demand IT COULD AHVE KILLED HER!!! A TRAFFIC STOP IS NOT WORTH A OLD LADIES LIFE.
at 06:27 on June 17th, 2009
This should never have happened. She clearly told him she would sign the ticket. That should have been the end of it PERIOD! Too many cops think they can do whatever they want because they have a gun and a tin badge. Had this been my mother or grandmother, I would beat the hell out of that cop and whoever tried to stop me. He needs to be fired and never let back in law enforcement. He has the wrong temperment for the job.
at 09:40 on June 10th, 2009
This is disgusting the the officer should be removed from duty. Those tasers should be illegal.
at 07:19 on June 11th, 2009
Would you rather the officer strike her a ASAP.. 72 OR 22 you are tought in the Academy that you never lose control of a situation. This woman was clearly escalating a "simple ticket violation".. Was the Deputy at wrong... Lets let a court decide what do you think?
at 09:24 on June 11th, 2009
Come on, tasing is supposed to be used for subduing violent situations , and does a 72 year old frail women present such a serious threat to the much larger stronger office that he has to resort to using it? On a violent , drunk, drugged up younger person maybe but on an elderly person that could have had a stroke or heart attck it should not have been used. He seems to be a bully.
at 09:54 on June 11th, 2009
"the academy"...get off your high horse. the "academy" is for a bunch of previous bullies looking to institutionalize their aggression. if you need to taser a 72 year old, man or woman, you need to put in some time in the weight room.
at 07:42 on July 21st, 2009
Let me ask all of you this then... At what age can someone not be tasered? If this was a younger person, I do not think any of you would be offended. She should have known better. My favorite part was when she denied being difficult. It made me laugh.
at 10:13 on June 10th, 2009
Thanks for this, John. I'm at a loss for words after watching the video.
at 15:18 on June 10th, 2009
This was such a dreadful incident, given the obvious size difference between that big and burly policeman and Mrs. Winkfein...
at 07:24 on June 11th, 2009
So are you telling me that he should of use force to place her under arrest. This lady was told "9" times to step back and all she had to do wa "step back". Then under her own words clearly herd on tape, she said "take me to jail". Under TX law,you refuse to sign a ticket, your under arrest. Simple... The Deputy was following the law. But hey lets let a court decide, what do you think?
at 15:46 on June 10th, 2009
Would the outcome have been different if the person was 17, 27, 37??
at 18:43 on June 10th, 2009
This cop did nothing wrong. Does being 72 warrant the right to disobey a police officer? Regardless of your opinion, according to the law it does not. She disobeyed multiple instructions repeatedly. If a younger offender acted the same way they would have got their ass beat. Quit whining.
at 19:33 on June 10th, 2009
This is not about disobeying a police directive. This is about the tactics required to keep a particular situation under control. The cop has anger management issues and clearly has no skill in performing his job other than with a guerrilla-like mentality. The fact that she was physically frail should of course be calculated into the BEST POSSIBLE way you might manage this scenario.
Mike Jones, you seem to possess a similar level of mentality/maturity as the cop. "Would have got their ass beat?"
Yeeehaaaw!!!!
I'll quit whining when you start thinking. Deal?
at 19:50 on June 10th, 2009
MOST PEOPLE JUST DON'T GET IT, WE ARE PROPERTY OF THE STATE,THEY HAVE TAKEN OVER OUR LIVES AND IT'S UP TO US TO TAKE THEM BACK FROM THE GOONS RUNNING THE STATE.
at 19:59 on June 10th, 2009
No wonder people do not like the Cops.
at 20:17 on June 10th, 2009
Some good people do not understand that many aging senior citizens are on medications which can make them a bit "off the mark" in diplomacy and reasoning.
I do think the officer provoked her further with his actions. Yelling at her, could cause disorientation and ignited her defensive posturing and combative actions.
The effects of a jolt of electric shock from a taser on an aged citizen can leave damage and accelerate mental denentia. In reality, she may not have remembered her actions, due to the adrenalin rush of her fear and anger along with the effect of the taser.
The shoving was a real concern to watch, due to one wrong mis-step and she could have been left with broken bones. Older women may have extremely brittle bones. Is a war of words worth this happening?
Surely a bit more of professional and common kindness could have made a total different outcome in this altercation.
This is a very sad example of lack of training in a position of authority.
~Peace~
at 07:43 on June 12th, 2009
If that's is the case that she was not in a healthy mental state then she should not have driving the vechile in the first place! Everyone over 65 should have to take the drivers test again! That's another topic all together! This should have been dealt with in a different manner! Him throwing his ticket book to the ground was enough to tell me this guy has anger issues! To taze a 72 yo woman is just a horrible choice by that officer to control that situation! You mean to tell me with the training cops recieve, that he couldn't overpower her to get cuffs on her and in his car without hurting her? Come on now....Yes this woman was totally in the wrong! Yes she was combative....but there was many other ways this could have been handled that didn't envolve tazeing a 72 yo woman! There are douche bag cops as much as there are douche bad citizens!
at 21:10 on June 10th, 2009
would the outcome be different if the person was 12, 27,37? I would hope so, you don't talk to a three year old the same as a 12 year old. And you sure as hell don't talk to a 27 year old the same as a 72 year old. Who cares if she was speeding she deserves a little bit of respect, so she's giving the officer attitude....who hasn't.. He should know better, ignor the tude give her the ticket and send her on her way.
Instead he treats her like shes about to takle him....man handles her...give me a break..
Definately needing anger management....maybe even a hug.....don't think I'd want to get to close to him though....I might get tasered!
at 01:22 on June 11th, 2009
Just one word for the police officer - Disgusting.
at 05:20 on June 11th, 2009
Why did he ask her to get out of the car in the first place. If they were on a road with a speed limit of 35 it shouldn't have been a difficult thing to write her a ticket and send her on her way. We see it all the time on freeways.
Officers leave the person in their car and write the ticket without getting them out of the car. Surely this officer needs to be sent back to training. What would he have done if this had been a man? Has he forgotten all the ways they are taught to handle difficult situations.
I have several thoughts on what was going on with this officer. Maybe his mother pissed him off recently, or maybe he just wanted to try out a new toy (the taser). Or maybe he was having hormonal issues (do men have those)?
I know this was outrageous and this man has no respect for people. I can only imagine what would have happened had she been a mouthy college student.
at 10:01 on June 11th, 2009
He asked her to get out of the car because she was being arrested. It seems that if you refuse to sign a ticket, the officer has to arrest you.
And while I think tasing was extreme, what should he have done? He was trying to arrest her and she was getting more and more Belligerent. Should he have just let her go? I don't care if she was 72, the way she acting was not good. And if she had a mental imbalance or medication issue, why is she driving?
at 16:54 on June 13th, 2009
Since when an officer has to arrest you if you resign to sign anything?? Nobody can force you to sign anything you don't want... we have rights... From your point of view, it seems like we are living in a 70' latinamerican dictatorship, are we?? He was trying to arrest her, thats right, but for no reason... he should just left her go, and put her a ticket and post it to her home (thats simple), i mean, she was only a little more speedy, not too much, she wasn't in a bank robery and the issue here is not her possible mental imbalance or medication the issue here is that this policeman was out of control and the justice must put things in order, and the most serious thing is that she could had died due the tasing.
at 05:47 on June 11th, 2009
This old woman is a heroine. She just didn't want this police treat her as a delincuent, or as Bob Taylor said, property of the state.
This police is not profesional, that's for sure, they where thousands of better ways to manage that situation. If there is some justice in this country this cop should be on jail for several years or at least do social working in a geriatric, so he will learn how to respect old people.
I'm glad that all comments are defending the true... except mike jones...
@Mike Jones: Yes, just because she is old, she deserves respect, only because that, is a shame that this basic principle is forgotten in this society, ( i'm not old, i'm 28 now ) and remember that many younger people had died by heart attack due this kind of weapons, is a miracle that this woman stay a live to keep fighting.
at 06:30 on June 11th, 2009
I am amazed. Some of you just don't get it! Don't break the law... don't be ignorant and swear at an officer and become non-compliant and you won't have this happen to you!
I have been stopped a couple times in my 56 years and the outcome was nothing like this.
95% of our officers are very professional and great cops (you have a few in every profession that shouldn't be there).
I have worked closely with law enforcement, though not an officer myself. They take alot of garbage they shouldn't have to.
at 17:30 on June 15th, 2009
RSR says "they take a lot of garbage they shouldn't have to". I'm pretty sure they're all aware of what they're signing up for when they decide to take this career path. Foul language isn't against the law--I'm sure they hear that talk all day, every day--that's no excuse for his actions no matter how angry she may have made him. Besides, I'm certain cops are taught several different means of restraining unruly, or uncooperative people long before the taser is needed. It's obvious his anger got the best of him and he was no longer thinking or acting logically, but rather reacting in anger. He's a dangerous person to be carrying around any weapon with the power and authority entrusted to him as a cop. Many people in positions of power are dangerous--that's what's just as scary.
at 08:03 on June 11th, 2009
RSR says:
"I am amazed. Some of you just don't get it! Don't break the law... don't be ignorant and swear at an officer and become non-compliant and you won't have this happen to you!"
We all have a first amendment RIGHT to freedom of speech. If this 250+ lb. testosterone laced chump can't handle a 72 y/o Senior Citizen who is half his weight, physically or emotionally, then he needs a new career. Dealing with the public with rational and sound judgment, and having a thick skin, are a requirement in this field. Also, since when in your 56 years of driving (especially when you were over 65) have you been asked to step out of the relative safety of your vehicle and onto a busy road? Is that protocol when citing an elderly woman for a moving violation? Can't handle the heat? Stay the away from the stove. Peace!
at 04:12 on June 13th, 2009
@ John Allen wake up you are living in a fantasy world! When was salvery