On July 10th, 2024, an officer with the Lincolnton Police Department pulled over a driver after she ran a stop sign in a residential neighborhood, phone in one hand, coffee in the other. It should have been a simple ticket and a quick stop. Instead, it turned into something nobody on scene expected. >> Ma'am, how's it going? I'm Officer Estrada with the Lincolnton Police Department. Do you have your license, registration, proof of insurance? Is it safe to get it out? >> Yep. >> And the registration and proof of insurance? >> It's a rental. It's a rental. >> How long have you had the rental for? Do you mind hanging up while we're talking? >> Yep. >> I'm sorry. >> I can't hear >> I can't hear you. >> I said I'm not hanging up my phone. And it's a rental and I've had it for about a week. >> Okay. The reason I'm pulling you over is you ran the stop sign back there at Livingston and Broadway and you're talking on your phone and had coffee in the in the other hand. So >> run a stop sign. I would never run a stop sign. >> Well, you did. And you >> So I can't be on my >> You cannot be holding your phone and you cannot be holding coffee in another hand. You need to be paying attention to driving. >> I'll just take my ticket and go. >> Okay. I'm just letting you know >> I'm parked well and I'm pretty sure in the state of North Carolina you can be on your >> It is when you when you're not paying attention, you're running a stop sign, you got a phone in one hand and a coffee in the other and you're in a residential neighborhood. So, okay. I guess we just don't care about safety. Stay there, please. >> While the driver sat waiting, convinced she was about to drive away with nothing more than a fine, Officer Estrada ran her information. What came back changed everything. Her license hadn't just lapsed, it had been suspended twice. >> Uh, she's going to be over going to be >> Going to do a criminal citation? >> What's that? >> A criminal citation? >> No, she's going to go. She's been suspended twice. She blows a stop sign back here. Phone in one hand, coffee in the other. I pull over. Still yakking on the phone. Still has coffee in her hand. And then starts giving me a bunch of attitude. And her license isn't even good. >> Well, okay. >> For a ticket. >> Well. >> So, like she clearly >> Yeah, I'm talking to the dispatcher on the radio. >> All right. Uh, we're going to have her come step out. Sign those. >> At this point, [snorts] officers had made a decision. She wasn't getting a citation and leaving. She was being placed under arrest. All she had to do was step out of the vehicle. But what happened next would turn a routine arrest into a nearly 5-minute standoff. >> Hello. >> He's going to have you step out so you can sign for this. >> I'm not getting >> You're not getting out? >> No, thank you. >> You need to bring your right here. >> Officer Slater? >> Yes, ma'am. >> What? What is the problem? >> I I don't know what the problem is, but this officer is asking you to step out. >> No, I know better than to get out of my car. >> And according to Florida State Statute? >> I'm not getting out. >> Here's the deal. >> With the doors locked and the driver refusing every command, officers were running out of options. What came next was a warning most people only hear about. >> You need to step out of the vehicle or I'm going to take you out by busting this window. >> I'll pop >> The other one. >> You can step out or we're going to take you out. Step out of the vehicle. This is not going to end well for you. You need to step out of the vehicle. >> The door unlocked? >> No. >> What? What? >> You need to step out of the vehicle or I'm going to bust this window. >> I'll shatter the window. >> Just open the door, ma'am. Just open the door, ma'am. Do you have a punch? >> You want me I'm going to do? >> Open the vehicle now. You have no more chances. Open the vehicle and step out. >> you can't hear you. So, just open the door. >> Open the vehicle and step out. >> What is your name? >> Or I am going to pull you out of this vehicle. Do you understand me? >> Our vehicle is still here, right? >> You are dictating how this goes. You are under arrest. You need to step out of the vehicle and put your hands behind your back. Yes, I pulled you over. You need to step out of the vehicle. Okay, step out of the vehicle right now. Step out. Come on. >> I can't have no interaction with him. >> Step out of the vehicle. You are under arrest. You are now under arrest. Step out of the vehicle. >> Or you >> Get out of the vehicle, man. >> You have to get out of the car, man. >> Yeah, but not like this. >> Okay, just >> Not like this. But not like this. >> Ma'am, get out of the car. >> No. >> You have to. >> Why? >> You're under arrest. >> For >> I want to explain why you're under >> You're going to hit me? >> I don't want >> Get out of the car. >> No, we're not doing We're not doing this. No. No. >> All right, you're about >> Spray. No, I don't. >> Okay, so get >> I also don't want y'all >> You have to get out. >> me. >> Go, you are under arrest. >> For what? >> Step out of the vehicle now. Step out of the vehicle now. You're being very difficult. Step out of the vehicle now. >> Three officers, one locked door, several minutes of commands ignored. The situation was reaching its breaking point, and officers were about to make clear they had one option left. >> I can get out on my own. I can get out on my own. >> But you're not, so get out now. >> Back up and give me a second. >> Let's go. Now. >> [ __ ] >> Get out of this car. >> I'll get out on my own. >> You have to get out. >> I can get out. No. Put your hands behind your back. Put your hands behind your back. You're under arrest. Put your hands behind your back. >> They're arresting me, guys. And there's three of them. >> Let's go. Come on. >> Does this make y'all feel good? >> No, this is not what I wanted to be doing today. >> Do you have like a specific problem? >> No. >> With me? >> I have a problem that you're at a stop sign, you're driving with a not valid license, and you're holding coffee and a phone in your hand while you're driving. That's what I have a problem with. Nobody was. I watched you. Sit down. Sit down. >> I'll just sit right here. >> No, get in the car. We're not playing this game. Get in the car. It's done. You're under arrest. Sit in the vehicle, please. Get in the vehicle. Sit down. Thank you.