Florida Woman Pulled Over for Alleged Phone Use Despite Having No Right Hand

In Lake Worth Beach, Florida, a sheriff’s deputy stopped Kathleen Thomas in February. The deputy believed she was holding a phone in her right hand while driving. However, upon approaching her, it became clear this was not possible, as Thomas does not have a right hand.

The incident was captured on the deputy’s body camera. Footage shows Thomas laughing as she clarifies the situation by holding up her right arm, clearly missing a hand. She posted the video on social media, which quickly went viral.

Court records indicate the deputy requested the citation be dropped, and Thomas was due to appear in court the following week. In response to the incident, Teri Barbera, a spokeswoman for the sheriff’s department, stated that motorists can contest citations in court where evidence is evaluated fully. The department did not provide further explanation for the traffic stop.

During the encounter, the deputy insisted he saw a phone. Despite this, Thomas continued to show her empty right arm. The deputy eventually questioned her, asking if she was swearing by a higher power about not having the phone in her hand.

After court, Thomas shared the outcome of the case, stating, “Lack of evidence” was the reason for the dismissal. She humorously noted that this was already known. An adaptive athlete, Thomas was born with part of her arm missing. She expressed hope the officer would learn from their interaction. The sheriff’s office confirmed a review of the deputy’s conduct was underway.

Mark Walker, a Times reporter, covered this story alongside research by Alain Delaquérière.