Poll: Cop vs grandma scuffle caught on camera

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Updated: 9/13/2012 1:58 pm
KEENE, Texas (NBC News Channel) -- A Texas police department is standing by an officer who dragged a 77-year-old woman out of her car for speeding after she repeatedly refused to provide her driver's license.

The entire arrest was caught on video.

The woman, Lynn Bedford, was stopped in Keene, Texas on August 19 for driving 66 mph in a 50-mph zone.

Bedford told Sgt. Gene Geheb that she had a bladder infection and had to go to the bathroom, but the situation quickly escalated when the officer asked several times for her identification and she refused.

"Just hurry up; I have to go to the bathroom," she said.

"Let me see your driver's license and insurance, please," the officer asked.

She declined several times.

"No, I want to see your driver's license and insurance, please, and then I'll listen to you," the officer said.

"I'll give it to you in a minute," she replied.

"No, you give it to me now, or I'm going to take you to jail," he said.

"Well, go ahead," she said.

The officer then pulled her out of her car and handcuffed her.

Bedford's attorney, Clay Graham, of Fort Worth, said the officer overreacted.

"The officer is not very interested in listening to what she has to say," Graham said. "She gets a little frustrated. And then he just overwhelms her. That's what I see. And then it goes from routine stop to ridiculous stop."

Graham said Bedford was injured during the arrest.

He said Bedford is not interested in filing a lawsuit right now but isn't ruling it out in the future.

The lawyer said the woman was returning home from playing the piano at church when the incident occurred.

In a statement, Keene Police Chief Rocky Alberti stood by the officer's actions:

"This incident has been reviewed thoroughly by the Keene Police Department and the City of Keene Administration," Alberti said in a written statement. "All parties have concluded that Sgt. Geheb did not violate any state laws or department policies, and in fact was following department policy in regards to violators not providing identification."
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The views expressed here do not necessarily represent those of News 4 WOAI (WOAI.com)

deeshock - 9/17/2012 8:08 PM
1 Vote
66% of you that voted NO are Messed up in the head NO One has the right to put there hand on you without just cause and there was NO Just cause in that Video! The Untrained cop's life wasn't in danger. so here's a BIG MIDDLE FINGER TO THAT 66%.... WAIT UNTIL Its YOUR GRANDMA!

Walther - 9/16/2012 5:15 PM
3 Votes
If the chief stands by this officer, he and the officer should be fired. The man had zero patience and was looking for a reason to throw the woman in jail. He could have called for another officer or supervisor to speak with her before going off the deep end and roughing her up. Hope a good lawyer sees this and makes her a rich woman. Typical small town cop. We see the same kind of trash patrolling our small towns. Shame that it's all about how much money they can make for the city governments. They could care less about the safety of the people or their property.

Graftedin - 9/16/2012 12:41 PM
2 Votes
I was watching THIS video and I saw a policeman open the door and start twisting an elderly woman's arm BEFORE ever asking her to step out of the car. When long term abuse victims see this behavior they must think it is normal. Tell the people in Iowa this isn't normal. BTW, when you start calling names I know that you do not have a strong argument.

granny1 - 9/16/2012 12:21 PM
1 Vote
By the way, my dear. what video did you watch? As it must be a different one then is out there. The only person I saw screaming was the fat old bat, not the police officer. And I have spoken to family members from the north, and they agree with me. Of course, the reason we see the facts may be because Iowa has a fantastic educational system and tried to teach us to visualize things objectively. Obviously, wherever you come from does not have a very good educational system. Iowa has always been one of the top ten. AND, we were taught to take responsibility for our own actions. Which, obviously, this woman was not. Nor you, for that matter. Political correctness is a very bad joke and teaches people to be apologetic to everyone whether a "bad" has been done or not. I am from a free state, as is Texas as I can speak my mind despite what morons think. No where in the constitution does it say that you have the right not to be offended. If you are offended by what actually happened on this video, wher you try to twist it to fit your mistaken view of society, and I have the guts to call you on it to the point that you call names and try to cast aspirations on other people...I could really care less. You do not wake up next to me, don't help pay bills at my house nor do you help with chores, so you and your ranting and raving mean less than nothing to me. And if you did live in my house, etc etc. and voiced radical ridiculous views as you do, you wouldn't be living here long. I will listen to calm, thoughtful informed views and take them into consideration. But radical views, such as yours seem to be, are destructive to our freedoms. Grow up, junior!

r081nl0u1s3 - 9/16/2012 12:04 PM
3 Votes
The officer was way too aggressive. She was an elderly woman expressing her concerns. He was rude and would not even allow her to finish her statement. He escalated the situation. When she explained she needed to make this quick due to her bm issues. He just should of said ok, the sooner you give me your license and insurance the sooner you will be on your way. He was not pulling over a suspected murder or thief. That is a perfect example why people despise police that type of behavior.

Graftedin - 9/15/2012 8:03 PM
1 Vote
If you think God's people are contained in one state you are again mistaken and prove you are overbearing and controlling. Texas is too hot, that's why all the Texasas want to move here (or maybe it's because we are more free.) Salvation is only by receiving Jesus as your savior not by being born in the south.

Pastor Bob - 9/15/2012 12:02 PM
0 Votes
We are also glad you do not live in Texas, but I fear your attitude toward God's people will get you sent to Hell. Don't go there; it's too hot.

Graftedin - 9/15/2012 11:52 AM
1 Vote
To granny1 after trying to read Dodie Lee's comments I can see that brutality and violence must be the Texas state pastime. It never occurred to me that people in Texas would think that kind of violent thought much less do them with the citizens standing on the sidelines cheering. I think we need to move that proposed wall north of the Texas border instead of south.

Graftedin - 9/15/2012 10:46 AM
1 Vote
To granny1 after trying to read Dodie Lee's comments I can see that brutality and violence must be the Texas state pastime. It never occurred to me that people in Texas would think that kind of violent thought much less do them with the citizens standing on the sidelines cheering. I think we need to move that proposed wall north of the Texas border instead of south.

Graftedin - 9/15/2012 10:46 AM
1 Vote
To granny1 after trying to read Dodie Lee's comments I can see that brutality and violence must be the Texas state pastime. It never occurred to me that people in Texas would think that kind of violent thought much less do them with the citizens standing on the sidelines cheering. I think we need to move that proposed wall north of the Texas border instead of south.
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