Instead of becoming more careful, he became angrier.
"Everybody back up!"
Nobody moved immediately.
He pointed toward a young man filming from beside the fountain.
"You! Put that phone away!"
The young man kept recording.
"I'm on the public sidewalk."
The deputy took a step toward him.
The woman spoke sharply.
"Leave him alone."
The deputy turned back.
"You're giving me orders now?"
"I'm telling you not to intimidate witnesses."
His jaw tightened.
"You've got a real attitude problem."
She looked toward the broken mirror.
"And you've got a serious judgment problem."
The younger deputy laughed.
That laughter would later become one of the most frequently replayed moments in the entire incident.
Because seconds later, the older deputy swung his baton again.
This time, he struck the driver's side window.
Glass cracked in a spreading pattern before fragments fell across the pavement and into the vehicle's interior.
A gasp rose from the crowd.
The woman stepped toward her car.
"Stop!"
The younger deputy moved quickly.
He caught her shoulder and shoved her backward.
Her heel slipped against the stone.
She stumbled, caught herself, and regained her balance before falling.
Her ivory handbag swung against her hip.
For one terrible second, she stared at the younger deputy as though she couldn't believe he had actually put his hands on her.
Then she spoke in a low, controlled voice.
"Do not touch me again."
The younger deputy smirked.
"Then stay where you're told."
She looked down at her shoulder.
Then back at him.
"What's your badge number?"
He laughed.
"You're not in a position to make demands."
The older deputy pointed his baton toward her chest.
"Here's what's going to happen. You're going to stand back, give us the keys, and let us determine who actually owns this car."
The woman stared at him.
"You should have determined that before damaging it."
"Keep talking."
She took a slow breath.
Then reached carefully toward her handbag.
The older deputy immediately raised his voice.
"Hands where I can see them!"
She stopped.
"My identification is inside."
"Don't reach for anything until I tell you."
Both of her hands remained visible.