A Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office deputy was reprimanded after issuing a traffic citation to a woman without a right hand, alleging she was using a cellphone while driving. The incident occurred on February 11, when Deputy Yosvani Quesada conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Kathleen “Katie” Thomas on the 1800 block of North Dixie Highway in Lake Worth Beach.
Details of the Incident
During the stop, Deputy Quesada told Thomas that he stopped her because he saw she was holding and manipulating a cellphone in her right hand while driving. However, when Thomas raised her right arm, it was revealed that she did not have a right hand. Despite this, the citation did not specify which hand the deputy saw her using.
The incident gained national attention and exposure on social media when the deputy’s body camera footage of the stop was made public. On May 25, a sheriff’s office review determined that Deputy Quesada’s interpretation and application of the law did not align with the elements required to establish a violation. As a result, the traffic citation was dismissed due to insufficient evidence, and Deputy Quesada received a verbal reprimand for the violation.
Original reporting: WPBF (Treasure Coast / Hearst) — read the source article.
