Woman Sues Police After Losing Baby

[951-Riverside]

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- A woman whose premature baby died the day after she was arrested has sued the Kansas City Police Department and two officers who repeatedly ignored her pleas for medical help while they were arresting her.

A police videotape released Tuesday shows Sofia Salva telling police officers numerous times on Feb. 5, 2006, that she was pregnant, bleeding and needed to go to a hospital.

After the ninth request, a female officer asked: "How is that my problem?"

Salva, a Sudanese native, was held overnight on traffic violations and outstanding city warrants. After being released the next morning, she delivered a premature baby boy who died after one minute, according to a lawsuit Salva filed Friday in Jackson County Circuit Court.

Salva sued officers Melody Spencer and Kevin Schnell and the Police Department for wrongful death, personal injuries and failure to provide medical assistance. Salva is seeking actual damages exceeding $25,000 and punitive damages to punish and deter such conduct in the future.

http://www.thekansascitychannel.com/news/10889747/detail.html

...What a pair of heartless thugs.

[951-Riverside]

1. It gets even worse

Salva again tells the officers that she is bleeding and asks them to check her underwear and says she wants to go to the hospital.

"Well," Spencer said, "that will be something you can take care of when we get done with you."

After a drawn-out process to get Salva's identifying information, Salva is clearly upset.

"I have a baby in my stomach and I'm bleeding and I open my underwear for you to see."

"Stay seated!" Schnell yelled.

"If I die here, will you take care of me?" Salva said. "If I die here?"

"Fair enough," Schnell said.

Officers are then told Salva has outstanding city warrants for mistreatment of children, trespassing and several traffic violations, with bonds totaling $4,600.

After Salva is handcuffed, she again tells Schnell she is bleeding.

"I don't doubt that you're possibly bleeding, but you got a lot more problems with us," Schnell said.

...By the way there is video out there of this so if someone can find it please post.

[Sequoia]

29. And we give these bastards a funeral with motorcycles and bagpipes.

Most cops are idiots. Flame away cop lovers: I won't reply.

[SayWhatYo]

2. wow, that's ridiculous

This is a case in which the police truly were way out of line... I do not think there is any possible way to defend such actions.

[judaspriestess]

3. good, these officers

should lose their jobs also. They are not GOD, they shit on the pot just like everyone else.

[SayWhatYo]

5. They should get more than simply losing their jobs...

I wouldn't be against some sort of jail time... If not that, then they should not be able to become police anywhere, ever!

[ShortnFiery]

15. Oh, they were merely JERKS. Not an defense but they did not believe

her because, they ARE jerks. :P

I'm not trying to lessen their role, but the Department itself should review their personnel matching with regard to patrolling shifts. Inexperienced police officers should not patrol with each other away from the supervision of seasoned veterans. Now THAT is an accident waiting to happen. :shrug:

[951-Riverside]

17. Re: Inexperienced police officers

They are inexperienced when it comes to humanity their IMO. If someone is bleeding in your custody you call for help, its just basic instinct if these cops were so grossly "Inexperienced" that they need a freaking training manual to tell them that they shouldn't be officers to begin with.

[ShortnFiery]

19. That's the point! These two NUG inhumane officers separately paired up

with a humane veteran (8-10 yrs.) officers could have averted such a tragedy. Plus such horrid people *usually* wash out within less than a year or two. Usually. There's blame to go toward the staffing decisions of their Department as well. :shrug:

[catabryna]

4. Video Link...

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/local/16583481.htm

You'll clearly see the link to the video. This is an absolutely appalling story and the video is heartbreaking to watch.

[rock]

6. Callous is not just for spots on your feet

This is inhumane.

[sinkingfeeling]

7. Oh well, she's a Sudanese native. That explains it. Hope a jury awards her a couple of

million dollars in punitive damages!

[no_hypocrisy]

8. Negligent Homicide of a Fetus. I believe that's a felony these days.

Besides the civil rights violation, she should go to the prosecutor.

[zbdent]

9. Suddenly, you're going to see Repukes trying to set the standard for

the "value of a child's life" ... at maybe court costs ...

[ShortnFiery]

10. On a smaller scale, mistreatment of people happens more often than

we would like to believe. :shrug:

Last August, I had just spent a hard working afternoon mowing and trimming on our middle class lawn. I looked a mess but decided to drive to Shopper's Food Warehouse. I parked my 10 year old van directly next to a beautiful white Cadillac Escalade with gold trim. As soon as I opened my door, I could hear whines and yelps from what turned out to be an 8 week old black lab puppy in this vehicle parked directly next to mine. I looked in and saw a small puppy continuously yelping and looking distressed. One of the windows was cracked open 3 inches. Knowing it was hot and that this puppy was suffering and may going into heat stress, I called the local police. After about 10 minutes a crowd had gathered and people were getting upset. I exclaimed, "If only the door was unlocked!" Well someone reached in and unlocked the door. I opened it pulled the puppy from the kennel. For the next 10 minutes I put him in the shade, allowed him to drink a third of a Big Gulp water and sprinkled ice on him. ... The police and the woman showed up at the same time - about 10 minutes after I extracted the puppy from the SUV ... this woman (the owner of the pup and expensive SUV) was a drop dead gorgeous blonde - and - I kid you not, the young police officer on the scene was "all fired up" and ready to arrest me because, by opening her door, I may have scratched her pretty Escalade. ... No, he knew better than to arrest me but he put a good show on for the pretty lady. When he said that I could go, I exclaimed, "It takes 5 minutes for an 8 week puppy to be overcome with heat stress, I guess you'd rather I allow the animal to die than dare scratch someone's new SUV?" To which he retorted, "I'm not through with you yet, but for now, you may go!" ... After my husband went to the Sheriff's office and explained the situation to include his suggestion to check the store's outside security camera's in order to confirm my time line, there were apologies from the Chief of Police.

My point: The lady above's situation and mine happen far TOO OFTEN. They ASSUMED because she was not well off and had registration violations that she must be "lying" in order to get hospital attention. They would NOT have questioned the veracity of a woman driving a Cadillac Escalade. :grr:

THE TREATMENT (or lack of respect and proper treatment) is a product of the Police Officer's arrogance, lack of experience and a little *class war* on the side. ;)

Some corrupt cops will *abuse* people who they ascertain to be poor and ignorant. His partner was making faces but he did NOT intervene. More good cops need to "tone down" the inexperienced and power tripping younger ones. If you live in a working class community, I think you know EXACTLY what I mean?

[Megahurtz]

11. Good.

I've had it with Thug Police.

[Occulus]

12. Funny thing about the threads on this subject...

...No. Cop. Apologists.

Imaaaaagine. Something even they can't defend.

[WillParkinson]

28. I am not an apologist for anyone...

But I believe that there are far more good officers than bad ones. And I believe that, in some cases, they make the best judgment calls that they can.

However some people are like armchair quarterbacks. They always know better. It's easier to believe that cops are crooked, corrupt, or just violent. And they sit in the comfort of their own home never caring what they go through every day. Yeah, one of my best friends is a cop. And all those out there who tear them down or paint ALL police with the same brush are just as bad as those who try to explain away everything that the police do wrong.

Will I try to defend any actions here? No, of course not. To not respond to the ladies obvious distress is heartless. I don't care if the people are police. They're people first. Have compassion.

[Bark Bark Bark]

13. Every Time A Cop...

...gets killed, there's endless local media coverage about their "service to the community" which snowballs rapidly into the Universal Sainthood Of The Police.

Fact is--and we've all seen the recent stories--they enjoy tazering children, punching handcuffed suspects in the face, emptying their guns into people at the drop of a hat, infiltrating demonstrations to incite rioting, herding compliant pedestrians into dead ends and then beating and arresting them for "not dispersing," shooting peaceful protesters in the face or back of the head with wooden dowels, breaking women's arms with truncheons, and beating up "suspected queers" to steal their fajitas. And how many times do they pay for their crimes?

...And that's just the San Francisco Bay Area.

[ShortnFiery]

14. Only the bad cops! These two cops were said to have less than 5 years

experience between the two of them. It may also be a poor staffing decision. Often, but not enough, the power tripping cops are washed out within the first year of duty. Further, had one of the cops been a veteran of 10 years or more, the odds are that, this lady would have been sent directly to the hospital. If they did not immediately get her care, then yes, the whole department should be found negligent.

But yes, there are police officers with the compassion of good social workers. They need to help weed out those who only join the force for the POWER to control others.

[951-Riverside]

18. Re: These two cops were said to have less than 5 years

So?

Most children know how to dial 911 when someone is in trouble so what does that say about these cops?

[ShortnFiery]

20. Point taken.

It's not an excuse (two inhumane jerk cops), merely and explanation (could have averted this tragedy if they were separately paired with a veteran).

Your point is well taken. :hi:

[arikara]

23. One had 4 years, the other had 2

Even worse, one was a woman. A rookie whose been on the streets for 2 weeks should have known better. They either call an ambulance or take her to the hospital themselves, if she's lying they deal with it after they've had her checked out.

[rocktivity]

25. DING DING DING! Arikara, you're our grand prize winner!

They either call an ambulance or take her to the hospital themselves. If she's lying they deal with it after they've had her checked out.

I've certainly heard enough stories about suspects being handcuffed to hospital beds or treated while a cop stood guard.

:headbang:
rocknation

[AnneD]

16. When all you have is a hammer...

everything looks like a nail. When you deal with the cream of society...it is hard to keep that impartiality. I think this was bad, but I understand how it happens. That is when you need a break or sabbatical.

[tom_paine]

21. Wow. You think if that had been a White Suburban Lady, the cops would have

behaved differently?

:sarcasm:

Not that racism and callous cruelty didn't exist before Little Boots Bushler stole our nation from us in a coup, but damned if it doesn't seem they are cerainly enjoying an uptick that seems to be inversely proportional to the dwindling freedom of the American Serf.

[Hobarticus]

22. Watch the video....they ignored her from the get-go...

She was pulled over for a fake temporary tag. Fair enough.

But she's plainly telling them, in heavily accented English, that she is bleeding and wants to go to the hospital.

His reply? "Okay. She's feeding me a line."

I could understand some degree of tension if there had been a high-speed pursuit, or she was belligerent, or there was a visible weapon in the car. Her crime? Well, she's obviously not "one of us".

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

24. They have committed murder.

I'd wish them sleepless nights for the rest of their miserable lives, but men like that don't have consciences.

"How is that my problem?" I really REALLY hope they discover the answer to that question.

[SemperEadem]

26. they were direct party to a fetal death

they were the cause of it. Since there is a law on the books regarding fetal death, it would appear that they are guilty of that crime and should serve time. All so-called "right to lifers" should be pouring out into the streets of Kansas City, demanding that these two cops be fired and charged and prosecuted. What they did is no different from an abuser kicking the woman in the stomach and causing her to miscarry.

The woman was trying to get to the hospital. She was trying to save her pregnancy. So what if the car had the wrong sticker in the window? I mean, so fucking what? Then write the ticket and let her go. The male cop's smart alecky comment about his partner not being a doctor--why is it police have delivered babies? They're not doctors, either. Any 2 yr old knows what blood looks like... it's not hard to miss.

Any woman with any kind of regard for her body knows that bleeding when it's not your period is a signal of something being dreadfully wrong. Every community of women on earth uses something to absorb, control the flow of blood when it comes to their monthly period, even women from Sudan, hard as it may seem to some.

It doesn't require that they act how they really are, but to do their fucking job. The car issue will be dealt with through the courts at a later date. She told them repeatedlythat she was bleeding--it was the first thing that came out of her mouth when she opened her door. She did everything she needed to do to convey that she needed immediate medical assistance. It was THEIR JOB to either call for an ambulance or to drive her there themselves.

So, to help the Prosecuting Attorney in Kansas City out, they need to be charged with:
1. dereliction of duty;
2. contributing to fetal death;
3. violation of her civil rights and if they could;
4. being assholes of the first order.

They both need to see some jail time to teach them what they should have learned a long, long time ago: do unto other as you would have them to unto you.

[jahyarain]

27. fuck their "inexperience"

the fucking female should have at least looked.

"The department's legal adviser said the tapes of Salva's time in jail had been recycled before it became aware of Salva's claims."

:grr: