Posted on 02/02/2007 5:47:37 AM PST by ActionNewsBill
KANSAS CITY, Missouri (AP) -- Two police officers were suspended indefinitely with pay Thursday as an investigation continued into their arrest of a pregnant woman who had a miscarriage a day after she was thrown in jail.
The suspensions came two days after police released a videotape showing Sofia Salva telling officers during her arrest last year that she was three months pregnant, bleeding and needed to go to a hospital.
The tape shows officers ignoring her pleas. After the ninth request, the tape shows, a female officer asked: "How is that my problem?" (Watch police arrest Salva Video)
The officers' behavior is "inconsistent with the values and policies of this department and inconsistent with the training they received in the police academy," Chief James Corwin said at a news conference Thursday.
Salva, 32, has sued officers Melody Spencer and Kevin Schnell and the police department for wrongful death and personal injuries. Salva is seeking actual damages exceeding $25,000 and punitive damages. She was arrested February 5 and held overnight on traffic violations and outstanding city warrants.
After being released the next morning, she delivered a premature baby boy who died immediately after birth, according to the lawsuit filed Friday in Jackson County Circuit Court. Corwin said he felt the incident was serious enough to suspend the officers even though an internal investigation is not complete.
"I ask for patience from the community as we investigate this incident," Corwin said. "I regret that this incident has reflected negatively on the members of this department, the vast majority of whom do their job in an exemplary fashion every day." Corwin read from a written statement and declined further comment, citing the lawsuit.
(Excerpt) Read more at edition.cnn.com ...
After the ninth request, the tape shows, a female officer asked: "How is that my problem?"
While there is a limited need for female police officers, most women who would want to become one shouldn't.
Sounds like a clearcut case of wrongful death to me.
According to the story, she was arrested February 5 and held overnight on traffic violations and outstanding city warrants.
There's a lot of guys who want to be police officers who shouldn't be police officers.
There's a lot of guys who want to be police officers who shouldn't be police officers.
True, but I'd still rather be pulled over by a male officer who shouldn't be there than a female who shouldn't.
She was on the way to the hospital because she started bleeding and was stopped on the way. She had outstanding traffic warrants (all misdemeanors)and was driving with an expired temporary license. I'm here in KC and have seen the police video several times on the news. The cops are toast. They had the right to stop her, but what happen afterward is inexcusable. She was polite, cooperative, and was begging for medical assistance. The cops deserved to be fired at the least.
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/16584384.htm
Odds are that she was losing the baby anyway (sad as that is) but she still might have had a chance and furthermore, could have hemoragged.
Idiot power hungry cops. I am in appreciation for 95% of our law enforcement, but the other 5% need to get in check.
Clearly the cops were wrong here but what about everyone else that came in contact with this booking at the police station? I read somewhere (don't know if it's true) that she required several changes of clothes through the night. And yet, NO ONE did anything!?
There's more blame to go around than just these two cops. The woman spent the night in lockup. I have a hard time believing she suddenly stopped asking for treatment once she was there. If she continued to be ignored long after the arrest then others should be looked at as well, and I hope the investigation includes that.
My goodness... it makes one wonder what the rest of the story is with this. Why was she thrown in jail to begin with? Is it alleged that the officers treated her roughly or did something that caused the miscarriage? Whatever it was, this was a horrible outcome.</em>You may try the search feature on this site, and all your questions will be answered. Film was all over TV a couple of days ago, And the officers need to be fired not suspended.
She had outstanding traffic tickets.
You had that part right.
Now she knows.
Yeah, you're correct. There is plenty of blame to go around, not just the 2 officers.
This poor lady needs a better attorney too. If I were the city I'd settle for the $25K she is seeking.
As I understand it they did not seek medical attention for her until she passed a large clot.
Sad, just so very sad.
They should be fired and prosecuted.
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