Ever been so fed up with someone that you wanted to dump a drink on them? That’s exactly what an elected official’s wife in Georgia did! Now she is facing criminal charges after reportedly dumping a drink on the head of a reporter at a county meeting. She then reportedly said that she ‘deserved it’.
Fox 5 Atlanta reports:
Abbey Winters, the wife of Chattooga County Commissioner Jason Winters, intentionally poured a drink over the head of AllOnGeorgia reporter Casie Bryant just before a county budget meeting was to start around 11 a.m. Friday, witnesses told police. Winters, 35, “said something to the effect of the Victim 'deserved it,'” according to the incident report from the Summerville Police Department.
The police report states that when officers attempted to talk to them, Abbey and Jason requested to speak to their attorney, Chris Corbin. When police went to Corbin’s office later, Winters reportedly said that the whole situation was a mishap. She said she tripped and accidentally poured the drink on Bryant.
According to witnesses, Bryant didn’t seem to have done or said anything at the time to provoke Winters. Leads you to wonder if something was said or done before the meeting.
Officers then spoke to Bryant, who confirmed what witnesses had told them. Bryant told officers she didn't recall ever seeing Abbey Winters at public meetings before. Bryant told officers that “for a few minutes after the drink was poured on her she was just in shock and that she recalled someone stating that the drink looked good on her,” the report says.
Based on statements from Bryant and witnesses, officers got warrants against Abbey Winters on charges of disorderly conduct and simple battery, both misdemeanors. Winters turned herself in around 4:30 p.m. Friday, according to the sheriff's office.
Corbin did not immediately respond to phone and email messages Monday seeking comment on the charges.
While no one at AllOnGeorgia immediately responded to Fox 5 Atlanta for comment, they did post the story on their website. The news outlet owner, Delvis Dutton, said that what happened “was completely inappropriate and I'm disappointed to see not only the behavior of those involved, but the excuses made for the behavior after the fact. The media plays an integral role in ensuring transparency and these types of antics are dangerous to open government and a disservice to the people it serves."