The Austin Police Department released the video of the traffic stop, which was captured with the officer’s dashcam, which shows Clinkscales pulling up behind the woman. Initially, the officer pulled her over because he suspected she was using her phone while driving.
As he approached her car, the woman in question steps out, with Clinkscales realizing she was clutching her throat because she was choking on a biscuit. At first, he slapped her back in an attempt to dislodge the piece of biscuit. When that didn’t work, the officer used the Heimlich maneuver, which finally resulted in the woman coughing up the piece of biscuit.
“Had it not been for the quick and exact actions of Officer Clinkscales, the patient would have most certainly had a negative outcome,” said Austin Travis County EMS captain Holly Craghead.
As previously mentioned, however, the officer stopped her because he thought she was using a phone while driving her car. Such an action, as well as using a phone while cycling, became subject to sanction back in January in San Antonio and Austin. The sanction carries up to a $500 fine in Austin, while San Antonio could dole out up to a $200 fine. It’s unknown whether the woman, who was stopped under the ordinance, will have to pay up, however.
Of course, given the circumstances, we wouldn’t be surprised if the Austin Police Department decided to let this one slide. Regardless, if it wasn’t for the ordinance, the woman could have been knocking at death’s door.
