Man thrown out of wheelchair for reminding able-bodied SUV driver not to park in handicapped space

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Last edited Fri Jan 31, 2020, 12:49 PM - Edit history (1)

Morning Mix

A man got thrown out of his wheelchair for reminding an able-bodied SUV driver not to park in the handicapped space, police say

By Meagan Flynn
Jan. 31, 2020 at 7:04 a.m. EST

Philip Kinstler pulled into the Pleasant Hill, Calif., Target parking lot in his hand-controlled van on the night of Jan. 11. He noticed the black SUV across from him had parked illegally in a handicapped spot.

Kinstler, who has been using a wheelchair for more than 30 years, saw a woman sitting inside the SUV. He plunked his metal ramp down to get out of his van, and decided to go tap on her window.

He pointed to the handicapped sign. “I thought I would ask her kindly if they could not park there again, in a handicapped spot,” he told The Washington Post on Friday morning.

That single request, according to Pleasant Hill police, would lead the woman’s partner to track down Kinstler inside the Target and demand he apologize to her.

Then, as customers and Target employees watched in amazement, the suspect grabbed Kinstler’s wheelchair and dumped him onto the ground.

Rather than returning a shirt at Target, Kinstler ended up going to the hospital with a broken wrist.

“I was in shock,” he said. “I looked down at my wrist, and it was all askew, and then the pain hit and I thought, my life is over.”

{snip}

The assault has left 52-year-old Kinstler, who lives alone, struggling to maintain his independence. Paralyzed from mid-chest down, Kinstler said he relies on his arm strength to do everything. With a broken wrist, he can’t transfer himself from his wheelchair to his bed without help from a nurse. He can’t take himself to the grocery store. He can barely wheel himself around his own home.

And the musician can’t play his guitar, one of the hardest blows, he said.

{snip}

Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly reported Jimmie Tiger was arraigned on Wednesday. He was arraigned last week.

Meagan Flynn
Meagan Flynn is a reporter on The Washington Post's Morning Mix team. She was previously a reporter at the Houston Chronicle and the Houston Press. Follow https://twitter.com/Meagan_Flynn

[BKDem]

1. What happened to the entitled personality?

I hope he was charged with something, and held for long enough to realize he's a complete asshole.

[AtheistCrusader]

14. Attempted kidnapping and some form of battery.

[dchill]

2. Gee, how can I imagine Trumpness in this scenario?

[TreasonousBastard]

3. He will, no doubt, have the book thrown at him, but the girlfriend should...

see some penalty for making a big thing of it.

Unsaid, of course, is just how "kindly" he asked her, although no matter he might have said or done is no excuse.

[Jarqui]

4. Some video here of the incident

https://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2020/01/29/wheelchair-assault-dispute-parking-space-pleasant-hill-target/

Jaw dropping disgust.

[TruckFump]

5. I have a handicap sticker and I see it all the time -- no plaque or plate and

parked in a clearly marked handicap space.

I have found what seems to work at times if I see someone who is doing this to very pleasantly say, "Oh, my goodness, you forgot to put up your plaque." At times, this is actually what has happened -- they forgot to put up the plaque -- and I am thanked for letting them know. When they are not a handicapped driver with a plaque, the answer is usually, "I'm only going into the store (or whatever) for just a second." Then I tell them "good luck" because this city, store, business, stip mall, whatever, has had so many people towed. Works about 50% of the time and the offending car is moved.

I also am very aware that there are handicap conditions that get plaques and plates and the reason is not visible-- like a cane or wheelchair. I have a friend who is in kidney dialysis and she clearly qualified for a handicap plaque.

I just wish some understood that a few extra steps to those with problems that effect mobility -- such as pain -- the few extra steps is no fun.

[Journeyman]

15. Excellent advice. Such an exchange is less likely to escalate (such as this one did) . . .

while gently getting the point across. Few would complain if the warning is to help them avoid getting a ticket.

[TruckFump]

16. Some who clearly are not handicapped drivers make like...

...they made a mistake and did not realize where they parked. Amusing.

Yeah, done in a helpful, nice tone, many look sheepish and some re-park. LOL, the ones that hear nothing...funny to watch. I know they heard me, the body language is a hoot.

[iscooterliberally]

6. I'm glad that didn't happen in front of me.

Even if the guy in the wheelchair was rude, there was absolutely no call for that. I hope the jackass who dumped him out of the wheelchair does years in prison.

[TruckFump]

7. Great bodily harm -- the broken wrist.

I am hoping the asshole who did it has assets...this is a lawsuit begging to be filed.

The tape before a jury? Ouch!!!!

[iscooterliberally]

8. According to the article the assailant posted $180K bond.

It doesn't necessarily mean that the asshole has money, but somebody does. I hope he gets cleaned out in addition to spending YEARS in prison.

[TruckFump]

9. That would be on the criminal case, a bond for release pending trial or adjudication.

While there is restitution imposed in most criminal cases, in my experience, it usually does not fully compensate the victim. That is where civil courts come in. Pain, suffering, etc., loss of wages, and on and on. Criminal primarily addresses out of pocket damages. At least this is what I have seen in California where I practiced prior to retirement.

[iscooterliberally]

11. You definitely know more about it than I do for sure.

I used to play bass for a living.

[TruckFump]

12. I used to work in the courthouse...

...I like your job better!!!!

I wish I had stuck with music!!!!

[Midnightwalk]

10. Horrible

And he is a musician and plays guitar.

The mobility issues are terrible to begin with, but to lose the ability to play and the uncertainty of how it will heal adds to the nightmare.

All because some idiot parked where she shouldn’t have and her husband went into a rage because she was asked about it.

He’s out on bail awaiting trial for felony assault and kidnapping. If convicted throw the book at him.

[TruckFump]

13. Glad to hear they are going for the big ones.

That asshole deserves it.