Cops Punished For Pregnant Woman Arrest

Kansas City Officers Denied Request To Go To Hospital, She Had Miscarriage Following Day

(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.

[thgdriver]

Was the arrestee at fault for not paying traffic tickets? Yes.

I don't give a dam$ if she just held up a convenience store. THE UNBORN CHILD IS NOT TO BLAME.

The women politely asked for medical assistance and informed officer Spencer of her condition.

The baby is DEAD.

The cops are still on the payroll, it's absurd!!

[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.

[thgdriver]

Can I assume you are not a judge also?

"Suing for wrongful death seems to fit in with her pattern of irresponsibility as evidenced by her traffic warrants".

We will "never know" if the baby would have survived, officer Spencer saw to that.

We can't change the "disregard" and "callousness" this cop had for an unborn child and it's death.

Now the tax payers will have to shell out for the cops-- "Hows that my problem" attitude.

If the women was lying about her problems, the cops could then charge her with giving false statement to police and/or resisting arrest.

[azman80]

Would it honestly have been such a burden on the cops to call the paramedics to the scene. Were they in such a rush to arrest her? Did not seem like it in the video. Had she been ok, they could of added some more charges to her. But if, and since, she was in need of medical attention, she could have gotten the proper care and then arrested, just like the drunk drivers that get injured. They get sent to the hospital, the off to jail.

[bhussbhuss]

Not a doctor thgdriver...just a mom who had three miscarriages of her own at that same time in gestation, who received medical care, and the doctors were unable to stop the process once it started. It's sad and very hurtful for everyone.

Perhaps something could have been done for this woman, some medication perhaps...who knows? She definitely should have been given medical care.

No reason for you to be so sarcastic. One can disagree without being rude.

[thgdriver]

Thank you "Doctor".bhussbhuss for your assessment.

Your being able to diagnose without examining your patients is to be commended.

[thgdriver]

I work for a large corporation and belong to a union, If someone is accused of steeling or damaging co. property (for instance), they are suspended "without pay" till a co. and union hearing within a week. If cleared, they get all pay from day one of suspension. (no one has ever been cleared).

Take my word for it, my co. does not bring any charges unless they know they are right.

Depending on "seriousness" they keep their job with the suspension "without pay" as punishment, or they are fired.

In this case an unborn baby is dead, to pay these cops is ridiculous.

[bhussbhuss]

Women have miscarriages all the time. I feel for the woman, but she was likely losing her fetus before she was arrested. It's very wrong that she wasn't given medical care and treated with such insensitivity. Nevertheless, at three months along the baby isn't developed enough to live if born. Suing for wrongful death seems to fit in with her pattern of irresponsibility as evidenced by her traffic warrants.

[thgdriver]

SharnCedar

So, according to you, an unborn innocent baby should be murdered because the mother broke the law.

[thgdriver]

mopone

I don't remember a video tape in the Duke case.

If you watch and listen to the video, officer Spencer is clearly arrogant and a bully with a badge.

If the vedeo evidence is strong enough to warrant suspension in the first first place, whats wrong with suspension without pay? If The officers are cleared then they get all back pay form day of suspension. If guilty they get nothing from the day of the (in this case) CRIME!

[sharncedar]

It seems these inner city dumbo-bimbos just are missing the point in life. The dumbo-bimbo didn't have to have all of those arrest warrants and she acted like a selfish stupid jerk who disregarded the law and all authority. Then she paid a terrible price for it. Is there any hint of a thought that maybe it was her own fault? Of course not, that's what makes the inner city such a hell, because the people will not take responsibility for them crud they bring on themselves. They seem incapable to accept responsibility for anything, including their own lives, and that leaves them in a cycle of disasterous behavior.