Originally Posted by
law dawg
This is incorrect. They can ask. You don't need authority to ask. And if she refused there's nothing they could have done about it except levy whatever charge they would have immediately after her act, if any.
Asking is not outside your authority. Punishing for failure to act may, but the mere asking? Nope.
Unfortunately for your argument the tape tells a VERY different story. After the water was spilled the woman attempted to walk away two times (that are obvious). The second time, the LEO grabbed her shoulder and physically stopped her. She is then held there until the bike officer arrives. Then TSA bring her the paper towels.
In the time that all this took, the spill could easily have already been cleaned.
No, this was about the cop punishing the woman and getting the woman to respect her authori-tie. Not about removing the hazard. And punishment, in this country, is the purview of a judge or a jury of her peers, NOT a cop on a power-trip.