Citation Dismissed for Driver with Missing Hand in Viral Video

Kathleen Thomas has risen to prominence as a social media figure after a Florida officer’s controversial body cam footage captured a troubling interaction with her. Thomas, who is missing one hand, was stopped for alleged distracted driving. When she contested the officer’s claim, he stood firm and issued her a traffic citation, which has since been dismissed. the viral video has sparked a significant backlash, with many internet users calling for accountability for the officer involved.

RELATED: Houston Police Department Terminates Officer Ashley Gonzalez Following Racist Comments About Black Individuals (UPDATE)

What Made Kathleen Thomas and Her Missing Hand Go Viral?

On February 11, a Florida officer stopped Kathleen Thomas while she was driving along North Dixie Highway in Lake Worth Beach, according to 12News. The situation gained traction when Thomas posted a TikTok video detailing her experience. The body cam footage subsequently revealed the events that unfolded during the traffic stop. The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office deputy stated that the city was conducting a distracted driving operation upon approaching her vehicle.

“…And you drove past me, holding the phone with your right hand, manipulating the phone,” the deputy claimed in the footage. In response, Kathleen raised her right arm, revealing a stub where her hand should have been. Despite this clear indication, the officer maintained his stance, even after the 36-year-old laughed off the apparent oversight. When she humorously suggested they could “call this a day,” the officer refused to relent.

When she disputed his assertion regarding her right hand, he persisted, asking, “…Hand to God, you did not have a phone in your hand?” Kathleen raised her stub again and reiterated, “Hand to God.” The officer then countered, “The other hand to God…” prompting her to lift her other hand as well. Following this exchange, the deputy requested her driver’s license and insurance, ultimately issuing a citation regardless.

WATCH THE BODY CAM FOOTAGE CBS NEWS OBTAINED BELOW. 

Request for Citation Dismissal by the Sheriff’s Office

As reported by CBS News, the $116 citation was dismissed after the sheriff’s office and/or the officer requested its cancellation on Monday (May 25). Kathleen had intended to contest the citation in court. To date, there has been no update from the deputy involved, and it remains unclear if he faced any disciplinary measures or breached the Americans with Disabilities Act or other anti-discrimination laws. Kathleen Thomas expressed to CBS her relief that the situation did not escalate further.

“…I was able to leave the encounter and handle it within the court system,” Thomas stated, emphasizing that police officers often lack adequate training to manage situations involving individuals with disabilities.

“I would love to ask those questions about what are the protocols? What kind of exposure do you have? Do you have any questions? Like what can we do to make this interaction better for both of us?”

She is scheduled to appear on a news program this Friday to provide further insights into her viral encounter, as reported by The Palm Beach Post.

A Palm Beach County Sheriff’s deputy pulled over a woman in February for using a phone in her right hand. But when she rolled down her window, she revealed she didn’t have a right hand.

The deputy issued 36-year-old Kathleen Thomas a citation anyway. This week, however, the… pic.twitter.com/t3Ha6EyDN3

— CBS News (@CBSNews) May 27, 2026

Public Outrage on Social Media Over Police Behavior

Within just 19 hours of CBS News releasing the body cam footage on YouTube, it garnered over 113,000 views and more than 2,200 comments. Many viewers expressed their disappointment and concern regarding a law enforcement officer’s inability to acknowledge a mistake. Others praised Kathleen Thomas for her witty comebacks and the memorable “Hand to God” exchange.

YouTube user @CrashOutsDaily remarked, “It was her immediate laughter in his face with her missing hand that shattered his little ego to pieces.”

@LadyStackz noted, “A cop that can’t acknowledge their own mistake is a dangerous cop.”

@anns2897 added, “This officer is dangerous. What else has he done? That poor woman.”

“The fun part is that this video can now be used as evidence in every case the officer is involved in to prove he’s an unreliable witness,” @purgal5250 commented.

“This officer should be fired. He is not to be trusted. Clearly,” @mooshy10285 expressed.

“‘Other hand to God’-that was so tacky and cruel. He could’ve just apologized and moved on to falsely accuse someone else,” @AliValentine143 commented.

“The officer is a bully and waited until the last moment to remove the court case so that she still had to take a day off work,” @europeanunion6731 wrote.

“The officer couldn’t have just said ‘sorry, my mistake, have a nice day?’ That would have been both the ethical and adult action to take,” @susanmazei1834 noted.

“To those suggesting he couldn’t admit he was wrong… it’s because he WASN’T WRONG…. he was INTENTIONALLY LYING. Big difference, and he should be fired,” @techiebliss stated.

“IDK but it seems like he needs a full mental evaluation before he is allowed to carry a weapon again let alone pull someone over,” derrickbeaubearic4100 commented.

“The real question here is what should happen to deceitful cops like this, because if the lady did have a right hand, how would it be proven that she was or was not using a phone?” @Andrewalker-15x questioned.

For more internet reactions, check out the insights from over 11,000 comments from The Shade Room’s community.

RELATED: School Resource Officer Allegedly Removed from Active Duty After Tasing 18-Year-Old Student on Atlanta School Bus (VIDEO)