A Texas traffic stop ended with an elderly Hispanic woman being handcuffed and restrained on the ground during her son’s arrest. The incident happened on October 4 in Batesville.
Video shows Zavala County deputies restraining María Robles near the scene of her son Román’s arrest. Her family says the force used against her was excessive, while the sheriff’s office says she assaulted a deputy and resisted arrest.
In the footage, Robles wears a pink top and dark bottoms as deputies restrain her on the rough ground. One deputy holds her arms and legs while trying to place her in handcuffs. She is moved across the ground during the struggle.
Family members and bystanders can be heard telling officers that she has a heart condition and was recently released from the hospital.
The witnesses also urge deputies to be careful with Robles’ arm. She is eventually handcuffed and remains on the ground as officers continue dealing with the scene.
At different points, she appears to be face-down and on her back. Nearby, deputies restrain her son Román against a vehicle before taking him to the ground and handcuffing him.
The video was shared on Instagram by @arevueltam and on X by @LongTimeHistory.
The X caption quotes the woman’s brother as saying, “They dragged her like a doll,” and adds, “She couldn’t move for 2 hours after the beating.”
The caption says the family admits she touched an officer but calls the response extremely excessive. Her daughter said, “They said they are going to press charges against her.”
The sheriff’s office states she assaulted a deputy, resisted and kicked while being handcuffed. She was released pending investigation, and her son faces multiple charges, including assault on an officer and resisting arrest.
Internet Reacts to Texas Arrest Video
The incident prompted strong reactions in the X comments. One person wrote, “What a savagery in the 21st century in the US!” Another questioned the circumstances behind Robles’ arrest, writing, “Why did this woman attack the police officer? If you don’t wanna get arrested don’t do something illegal.”
Other commenters focused on the force used during the arrest. “This level of inhuman treatment of an old lady and this level of cruelty is not what our country should ever allow to go unpunished!!!” one person wrote. Another added, “These brutal actions are totally UN-AMERICAN and totally unacceptable. Where do they find these hateful men who use abuse and force?!!”
One commenter called for the incident to receive outside scrutiny, writing, “A heart patient being dragged and restrained on the ground demands an independent investigation, not just the sheriff’s version of events.”
The video does not show what led up to the arrest. The family and the sheriff’s office describe the force used on the woman in different ways, and the investigation is pending.
