Sheriff: Pregnant Woman May Have Reached For Deputy's Gun

HUNT COUNTY (CBSDFW.COM) - Hunt County's Sheriff Randy Meeks says a says the deputy who hit a pregnant woman will stay on the job while the Texas Rangers investigate.

Speaking to reporters for the first time since the incident was caught on video and posted on social media, he also offered a possible reason for the deputy to have punched the woman.

In the video, Deanna Robinson, who was nine months pregnant at the time, says deputy Josh Robinson hit her several times in the back while she was handcuffed.   Robinson was there, along with Officer William Whitten and Child Protective Services, to assist with the removal of 18-month-old son under court order.

In a news conference called two days after Deanna Robinson first spoke to reporters, Sheriff Meeks says she did not comply with the officers orders.

While Meeks says the Texas Rangers will investigate the incident, he added his own possible scenario based on his view of the video.

"I believe based on the video he was trying to keep your hands away from his gun and that will take how many blows to keep her away," he said.

Meeks said the deputy did not say Robinson was reaching for his gun.  He said it was just another possibility based on what he witnessed in the video.

Meanwhile, Deanna Robinson is accused of assaulting a peace officer.

She says the deputies not only assaulted her, but could've harmed her baby, which she delivered three weeks ago.

"There is no excuse or justification for what they did. They could've killed my baby," she said.