Maybe we need guidelines for arresting pregnant women?
Brenda Hardaway was arrested for intervening in the arrest of her brother in Rochester, New York. She allegedly pulled pepper spray on officers and was being subdued when she cried out “I’m pregnant.” Police are not trained to handle pregnant women with different measures than any other citizen and so the officer punched her in the back of the head in order to stop her from resisting.
Rochester police Chief James Sheppard told the media that his officers showed “tremendous restraint” while subduing Hardaway and her brother.
“While the video may cause concern relative to the officer’s tactics, I stress that it is important that the incident be viewed in its totality and to withhold judgment until all the facts are known, including those parts of the event that are not shown on the video,” he said.
