Cops Punished For Pregnant Woman Arrest

(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?"

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.

She was arrested Feb. 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.

Salva's attorney, Andrew Protzman, could not be reached for comment Thursday.

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.

Spencer has been with the police department for four years and Schnell less than two years. No telephone numbers are listed for either. Police spokesman Capt. Rich Lockhart said both officers declined comment.

[pocohantas2]

Ms alabamadeb, have you ever been pregnant, when a woman is bleeding and pregnant, that is cause for concern. When she told the police she was pregnant and bleeding they should have taken her straight to a hospital, and handcuffed her to the bed. get real by the one police being a woman she should have known better.

[teeus]

"How can you prove that she wouldn't have miscarried anyway HAD she received medical attention?"

How can you prove she WOULD have?

Common decency says to err on the side of caution.

[kailumego1]

AlambaDabsuch self-righteous nonsense or should I say bullsh#t, I guess you%u2019ve never committed a minor offense in your so-called puritanical life. It always amazes me the hypocrisy pontificated by those who don%u2019t have a leg to stand on, but are hell bent on spewing their self-indignation onto others, while there lives are far from civic morality. You are no more of a moralist than she was unworthy of human kindness, and as far as your histrionic ranting over having experienced a miscarriage; I guess yours was no big deal either. You really sound insane, I don%u2019t care if she was losing her baby, these cops had no earthly right to deny her medical attention, because she had an outstanding warrant for parking tickets. You amoral piece of putrefaction to even allow such vileness to part from your lips that this woman wasn%u2019t deserving of medical attention because she owed traffic tickets.

[alabamdeb]

Yes, the officers should have sought medical care for her, but SHE was at fault for not paying her fines. Being pregnant is no excuse to break the law. The officers should definitely be reprimanded for not seeking medical care...but NOT for throwing her butt in jail. The miscarriage was no one's "fault". How can you prove that she wouldn't have miscarried anyway HAD she received medical attention?

[newton221]

Its your problem now you disgusting scumbags.

[newton221]

I hope these scumbag officers return to work and get shot right in the face. Funny thing is i bet if you asked these 2 scumbags why they became officers. They would say to help people. Lmao you really helped this woman and baby didnt you scumbags.

[buffstate2]

All people have a right to medical care. These cops acted inappropriate in their attitude, demeanor, and actions. They give cops a bad name. Yes, they deserved to be sued. It's not fair to say the baby would have died anyway, that is a callous and weak argument for the wrong actions taken by these law enforcers.

[kailumego1]

Bhussbhuss such self-righteous nonsense or should I say bullsh#t, I guess you%u2019ve never committed a minor offense in your so-called puritanical life. It always amazes me the hypocrisy pontificated by those who don%u2019t have a leg to stand on, but are hell bent on spewing their self-indignation onto others, while there lives are far from civic morality. You are no more of a moralist than she was unworthy of human kindness, and as far as your histrionic ranting over having experienced a miscarriage; I guess yours was no big deal either. You really sound insane, I don%u2019t care if she was losing her baby, these cops had no earthly right to deny her medical attention, because she had an outstanding warrant for parking tickets. You amoral piece of putrefaction to even allow such vileness to part from your lips that this woman wasn%u2019t deserving of medical attention because she owed traffic tickets.

[jtsjc1]

Typical dirtbag, scumbag cops. God with a badge. Both should be doing hard time just like I would had I done the same.

[finn_machuma]

It would have been no sweat off the policewoman's back to call a medic unit and have the woman transported to the local county hospital jail ward other than she might have had to report out on the additional overtime/had additional paperwork to do or missed time with her significant other. Police have a legal responsibility for the medical condition of anyone they take into custody! Sounds to me like the policewoman needs some classes inhow to treat everyone with respect even if they are the dregs of society. There is a time to turn on and turn off the "hardass" attitude. I find more and more policemen and women are not able to do that. Maybe they need some training on how to properly take someone into custody like maybe some refresher training yearly. Was the arrestee at fault for not paying traffic tickets? Yes, but it could be she was a poor person who could not afford to pay the fines and the problem compounded itself to where it was unmanageable.