Pregnant Women Arrested and Suffers a Miscarriage
Unanswered Pleas for Help
Two police officers arrested Sophia Salva, Kansas City woman, after seeing her place temporary license plate tags on her vehicle before driving off. She was pulled over and immediately questioned. In response Salva says she was bleeding and needed to get to the hospital so she wouldn't miscarry her unborn baby and that was the reason for placing the fake tags on her vehicle.
The incidence was videotaped and released on Tuesday to the media after a request granted under Missouri's open records law. It showed a woman begging for help many times and finally after the ninth time, the police offer responds with, "How is that my problem?" The officer was a female who didn't take the pregnant Salva seriously or seem to show any sympathy. The police assumed the women was giving them a line of excuses and refused t o check and see if there really was a medical situation. She sat on the sidewalk, bleeding as police searched her vehicle and groceries.
At that time they ran a criminal background check and found that Salva had unpaid warrants. They then arrested her on those counts plus the current traffic violation charge and held her overnight in jail. The next morning she is released and delivers a very premature fetus who dies right away. If she had received medical care her unborn baby could have very well stayed put and avoided the miscarriage.
Ms. Salva is suing the Kansas City police department as well as the two officers, identified as Melody Spencer and Kevin Schnell for wrongful death, personal injuries and refusal to allow medical services. The amount Salva is suing for exceeds $25,000 for damages. Her attorney says it's appears that the police officers approached the situation with pre-conceived ideas about Salva and thus didn't take her requests seriously. The police department has been cooperating and has launched their own personal investigation as they want the public to feel safe and know what is going on in their city. Even if, in the process, it exposes the truth about the departments unfortunate mistakes that contributed to the loss of an innocent life.
Published by Katherine M.
mama, wife, student View profile
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6 Comments
Post a CommentThis is such a tragic story.
Sophie
The story simply goes to show that policies and procedures at police departments across the country should be reviewed and updated to include plans for how to handle the need for medical attention to anyone who has been placed under arrest.
My two cents (more like four dollars). Thanks.
I am sure many people make up stories to get off the hook with the police, but the police have the needed resources to verify a medical situation. If police are present, I am certain it doesn't take long to get an ambulance or EMT on site. If the woman's need for care had been a contrived story - as verified by medical workers, they could have easily added that charge to her file/record.
I loathe what happened here, but the sad fact is that this happens all the time.
While a cousin of mine had a previous record of misdemeanors, she was taken to jail and denied medical care. She lost her baby at 5 months the day after she was released. It was her second miscarriage on the same day in 2 years. This happened in Dallas, TX, but of course there was no news coverage of this. I didn't even hear the story about this other young woman until now. The story simply goes to show that policies and procedures at police departments across the country should be reviewed and updated to include pla
This has been one of my greatest fears - the fear of having a medical emergency and being denied treatment by the police - possibly because of a need to hurry to the hospital. I am 13 weeks pregnant now and feel for the woman who lost her child. No one deserves what she went through. Those officers should not only be fired, but should also be required to attend some type of counseling. The female officer, especially, should have to see what a fetus looks like at 13 weeks. If she has children at all, perhaps she is an unfit parent. Who else could be so cruel? I understand that police departments have certain protocol they have to follow, but what part of protocol means denying medical attention. Could they not have called for emergency backup before dragging that woman off to jail?
I am sure many people make up stories to get off the hook with the police, but the police have the needed resources to verify a medical situation. If police are present, I am certain it doesn't take long t
Oh my god. That is severe neglect. I hope they are punished. Any bleeding woman having a miscarriage should be taken to the ER for medical treatment. This is a very well-written piece. It is so sad they didn't take her seriously.
It is an absolute shame to see that this type of behavior is exhibited by law enforcement officers. The proper procedure should have been to take this woman to the hospital and then deal with the rest later on. This is absolutely terrible! Thank you for raising the awareness of this type of situation. Maybe more law enforcement agencies will come up with protocol to handle these types of emergencies more professionally in the future. I am very sorry to hear of this woman's loss.