A 63-year-old woman has been awarded $15,000 by South Carolina’s Insurance Reserve Fund after she claimed officers with the North Charleston Police Department “violently assaulted” her during a traffic stop. The incident occurred on March 21, 2024, when Susan Pontenstein was traveling on I-26 and was accused of recklessly driving out of a ditch at a high rate of speed.
Incident Details and Pursuit
According to police reports, a North Charleston officer attempted to pull over Pontenstein’s red Chevrolet Malibu, using blue lights and sirens. Dash cam footage obtained via the Freedom of Information Act shows Pontenstein initially failing to stop for just over four minutes. She slowed down and moved to the shoulder but continued on the interstate before eventually stopping near the Montague Avenue exit ramp.
Pontenstein later told officers that she did not stop immediately because she did not feel safe on the interstate.
Alleged Excessive Force and Lawsuit
In a lawsuit filed in 2024, Pontenstein described being held at gunpoint after stopping and walking backward toward officers. She claimed that the officers “violently assaulted” her and used excessive force during the stop. Records show she was booked at 12:42 a.m. on March 22, 2024, three hours after the pursuit ended.
Charges Dropped and Payout
Four days after the arrest, the North Charleston Police Department dropped the charge of failure to stop for blue lights. The department declined to comment on the $15,000 payout.
