‘You deserve that’: Commissioner’s wife arrested after dumping soda over a reporter’s head

Washington Post ^ | 12/16/2019 | Meagan Flynn

[simpson96]

It was supposed to be a county budget meeting in Chattooga County, Ga., last Friday — but before it could even begin, the county commissioner’s wife stormed in and dumped a soda on a reporter’s head.

The shocking moment, captured partially on video, stunned the room into silence. Chattooga County Sole Commissioner Jason Winters’s jaw dropped. He uttered, “Oh, my God.” Another voice said: “There you go. I’m sick of it” — and Winters appeared to nod his head in agreement at his wife’s actions.

Meanwhile, the reporter sat at the table drenched, saying nothing.

“Oh, that’s classy!” a taxpayer attending the meeting yelled at Winters’s wife, Abbey Winters, (snip)

Abbey Winters has since been charged with simple battery and disorderly conduct in the bizarre soda attack on AllOnGeorgia reporter Casie Bryant, which witnesses told police appeared to be completely unprovoked. People and reporters attending the meeting said they could hear Abbey Winters say “You deserve that” just after dumping the drink on Bryant’s head, according to the police report and the Summerville News, which was at the meeting. The 39-year-old reporter did not say anything in response but calmly got up and left the room as the soda dripped down her face and onto her coat, witnesses said.

(snip) according to the police report, Abbey Winters told Summerville, Ga., police that she had “accidentally” poured the drink on Bryant’s head “after stumbling/tripping near her.”

(snip)

The incident comes amid mounting concerns about hostility toward journalists starting at the highest levels of government, with President Trump’s frequent cries of “fake news,” and trickling down to local news.

[L,TOWM]

Whine about it when it is a concrete “milkshake”.

[Larry Lucido]

Was it a Big Gulp assault soda?

[luv2ski]

The reporter is smoking. Wonder if the husband was banging her.

More likely the reporter is trashing the Commissioner and his wife in the press and the wife is fed up with it.

Also, there are a lot of women on this site (including me). When we see comments like this, it makes us think the men here think of nothing but sex. All I ask is you keep in mind your audience. If you wouldn't say it to your wife, don't post it here. Thanks.

[dfwgator]

When we see comments like this, it makes us think the men here think of nothing but sex.

As a man, I'm insulted.......We think about sports, too!

[Larry Lucido]

The reporter wrote that she didn't swing her arms. The cops responded "Sounds like a cat fight."

[luv2ski]

As a man, I'm insulted.......We think about sports, too!

Haha! Despite being female, I happen to be an expert on sports! Seriously.

[L,TOWM]

I would have no problem wondering aloud to Mrs. L,TOWM whether the reporter was doing some investigative journalism into county finances or if the wife suspected that the reporter was a ‘special friend’ of her hubby, the Commish...

Based on the “There it is, I’m sick of it” comment, it could be either:

A reporter being aggressive or even unfair

or

The wife was being cheated on and at least one of the other county employees was pleased that the affair was going to get resolved one way or the other.

I would then talk about sports...

[real saxophonist]

I talk about sax. And violins.

[luv2ski]

I talk about sax. And violins.

You guys are hilarious! Keeps me coming back to FR all day!

[Purdue77]

High capacity cup with a short barrel straw. A double whammy. Ban them both!

[Vigilanteman]

There really isn't enough information in the article to draw any conclusions about Mr. & Mrs. Commissioner's trip to Paris.

1. Was it a private trip paid for by themselves?
   
2. A taxpayer funded junket?
   
3. Or, most likely, something in between such as an actual business trip where the Mr. agreed to downgrade from business to coach class in return for being able to take his wife along?

[Trumpet 1]

Uhh, we are talking about Summerville, Ga. North of Rome on the Martha Berry Highway 27. Well known for beautiful scenery and some what low SAT scores. The local football coach complained about how his teams were handicapped because there were lots of guys who had to go home to work on the farm and were not available for football practice. All those other teams were city schools and did not have farms. At any rate...beautiful countryside. Many times called God’s Country. Dropped a soda liquid on another woman’s head. Just the liquid, not the bottle. A little bit slow. Civilized and other wise polite.

[Cowgirl of Justice]

No, I think the reporter was asking him if taxpayers funded their honeymoon and the wife took issue.

[real saxophonist]

Did you know the French word for Bassoon is ‘Fagot’?

[ClearCase_guy]

I used to know that, but I guess I fagot.

[Fido969]

Ban ASSAULT SODAS!..........................

Bloomberg doen't want to take away your sodas... only your "high capacity" assault sodas.

No one needs a 20oz soda.

[Lurker]

“When we see comments like this, it makes us think the men here think of nothing but sex.”

Not true. Sometimes we think about guns. Or food. Or beer. That comprises maybe 7% total.

At least for me anyway.

L

[Red Badger]

FROM MY COLD STICKY HANDS!!!!!!.........................

[dware]

Should probably be thankful it wasn’t tar & feathers. Although soda and feathers sounds symbolic enough to work.

[cgbg]

I think the reporter was asking him if taxpayers funded their honeymoon and the wife took issue.

So, when you pour soda on someone's head is that a "yes" or a "no"? ;-)