Democrat State Senator Detained After Getting Testy with a Police Officer During a Traffic Stop [WATCH]

A traffic stop involving Oklahoma State Senator Regina Goodwin (D-Tulsa) and Tulsa County Sheriff’s Deputy Freddie Alaniz escalated into a heated exchange on Saturday, January 11, according to body camera footage.

The incident occurred shortly after 1 p.m. in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and resulted in the senator receiving a citation for failure to stop at a stop sign.

Deputy Alaniz reported pulling over Goodwin after witnessing her run two stop signs and driving at a high speed that caused water to spray from puddles along the street.

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The body camera footage began with Alaniz repeatedly requesting Goodwin’s driver’s license, but the interaction quickly became contentious.

“Ma’am, I’m not going to ask you again. Can I get your driver’s license, or can I take you to jail on running a stop sign?” Alaniz said, emphasizing his authority over the situation.

Goodwin argued that the officer was “escalating” the encounter. “That is not true. That is not true at all,” Goodwin responded. “I was having a conversation, and you just all of a sudden said, ‘I’ll arrest you.’”

Alaniz replied, “No, I said, ‘Or, I can arrest you if that’s what you want.’”

The disagreement continued, with Alaniz asserting that Goodwin had refused to provide her license, while Goodwin maintained that she had not refused.

“I asked you over five times to give me your driver’s license, and you kept debating your driver’s license,” Alaniz said.

Goodwin denied debating the matter, stating, “I was not at all debating my driver’s license, sir, that is not correct.”

After several minutes of back-and-forth, Alaniz placed Goodwin in handcuffs and detained her in his patrol vehicle.

Goodwin’s attorney, Mike Manning, who was present at the scene, approached Alaniz to de-escalate the situation.

“I realize you have a job to do, officer,” Manning said.

“I realize Sen. Goodwin can be a little bit strong-headed at times, but don’t you think you can write her a citation or something? She’ll give you her driver’s license.”

Alaniz agreed, stating, “I don’t have an issue writing her a citation or letting her go, but I’m the one that’s in command of the traffic stop, not her.”

He explained that he initially intended to issue only a verbal warning, but Goodwin’s behavior led him to take further action.

Alaniz later recounted the events to his superior, explaining why he initiated the traffic stop.

“She ran this stop sign back here and the other one that’s a little further down. Just came up, slowed down, and then [zoom] right through them,” he said.

“She was driving so fast that, when she was hitting the puddles of water, it was just [splash] shooting them out.”

The deputy also described how Goodwin exited her vehicle upon being pulled over, immediately questioning the reason for the stop.

“You know, just kind of got very verbal. I asked for her driver’s license numerous, numerous times, and she wouldn’t give it to me,” Alaniz stated.

Goodwin was released at the scene with a citation for failing to stop at a stop sign.

She is scheduled to appear in court on February 25 at 9 a.m., unless she chooses to pay the fine beforehand.

Regina Goodwin represents Oklahoma’s 11th District in the state Senate.

She was elected to the Senate in 2024 after serving in the Oklahoma House of Representatives from 2014 to 2024.

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