Story Published:
Jun 6, 2008 at 5:01 PM CDT
Story Updated:
Jun 9, 2008 at 3:20 PM CDT
SPRINGFIELD -- The Greene County sheriff rescinded a ticket that was given to a woman early Wednesday for failing to yield to an emergency vehicle. The ticket was given to Vanessa Kimery, 22, after she put on her car’s emergency flashers and drove a half mile to an open convenience store after a deputy caught her speeding.
Kimery says she was worried that the deputy might be someone impersonating a cop. By the time she reached the store, two other deputies arrived to back up the first deputy. The deputies surrounded her and one drew his handgun.
A deputy handcuffed the hysterical woman, searched her car and tried to determine whether she was driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. They cited her for two violations: speeding, the original offense, and failing to yield to an emergency vehicle.
On Thursday, Sheriff Jack Merritt said his officers followed proper procedure. After further review of the traffic stop, videotaped by a deputy’s dash camera, the sheriff threw out the ticket for failing to yield.
The report garnered a huge response from viewers through phone calls, e-mail messages, and an online poll. The poll shows 90 percent of respondents said they would do the same thing and drive to a lighted area; 10 percent said they would pull over immediately.
