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Deputy Reprimanded After Citing Woman without a Right Hand at Traffic Stop
An internal review found Deputy Yosvani Quesada misapplied the cellphone law and recommended a verbal reprimand after body camera footage spread online.
Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office Deputy Yosvani Quesada was reprimanded after issuing a citation to Kathleen 'Katie' Thomas on February 11, alleging she used a cellphone in her right hand while driving.
Quesada conducted the stop on the 1800 block of North Dixie Highway in Lake Worth Beach, claiming he observed Thomas manipulating a device in her right hand during the encounter.
Thomas revealed she lacked a right hand; Quesada confirmed he did not specify which hand appeared on the citation during questioning.
On May 25, a sheriff's office review determined Quesada misunderstood the legal elements for a violation; the review recommended a verbal reprimand and the citation was dismissed on May 26.
National attention followed the release of body camera footage, while Quesada's request to dismiss the citation acknowledged insufficient evidence for the handheld wireless communication violation.