POLICE IN LOUISVILLE KENTUCKY RELEASED BODY CAM FOOTAGE FROM SEPTEMBER 27TH OF AN INCIDENT INVOLVING A HOMELESS PREGNANT WOMAN. IN THE VIDEO, AN OFFICER APPROACHES THE WOMAN UNDER AN OVERPASS, ASKING IF SHE’S IN LABOR AND NEEDS AN AMBULANCE.
“YOU SAID YOU’RE IN LABOR?” THE OFFICER ASKS THE WOMAN.
“I’M LEAKING WATER,” THE WOMAN REPLIES. “I’M LEAKING WATER ALL THE EMBRYONIC FLUID, I’M LEAKING OUT.”
THE WOMAN PICKS UP HER BELONGINGS AND BEGINS WALKING AWAY WHEN THE OFFICER TELLS HER SHE’S BEING DETAINED.
“STOP,” THE OFFICER TELLS HER.
“I’M BEING DETAINED?” THE WOMAN ASKS.
“YES, YOU’RE BEING DETAINED,” THE OFFICER SAID.
“FOR WHAT?” THE WOMAN ASKS.
“BECAUSE YOU’RE UNLAWFULLY CAMPING,” THE OFFICER REPLIES.
THE WOMAN TELLS THE OFFICER SHE’S GOING TO LOOK FOR HER HUSBAND WHEN THE OFFICER TELLS HER TO STAY OFF THE STREET AND WAIT FOR EMS.
“BUT YOU DON’T HAVE TO HOLLER AND YOU DON’T HAVE TO PUSH ME,” THE WOMAN YELLS AT THE OFFICER. “I HAVEN’T DONE ANYTHING TO YOU! OKAY? OKAY I UNDERSTAND THAT. I DON’T HAVE A HOME!”
THE OFFICER THEN GOES BACK TO HIS VEHICLE AND WRITES THE WOMAN A CITATION FOR UNLAWFUL STREET CAMPING.
KENTUCKY’S NEW STATE LAW, THE SAFER KENTUCKY ACT, PROHIBITS SLEEPING OR SETTING UP CAMP ON SIDEWALKS OR PUBLIC PROPERTY.
“I’M ISSUING YOU A CITATION FOR UNLAWFUL CAMPING, OKAY?” THE OFFICER TELLS THE WOMAN AS HE HANDS HER THE CITATION. “YOU CAN’T CAMP OUT OR SLEEP ON SIDEWALKS, UNDERPASSES OR BRIDGES. WE’VE WARNED YOU ABOUT THIS BEFORE.”
IT’S A MOVE BEING HEAVILY CRITICIZED BY HOMELESS ADVOCATES.
COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS, A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO ADDRESSING HOMELESSNESS, SAID THE OFFICER’S ACTIONS WERE “APPALLING” WRITING IN A POST ON FACEBOOK, “IT IS HORRIFIC THAT A WOMAN IN ACTIVE LABOR WAS CITED FOR UNLAWFUL CAMPING. OUR CITY SHOULD PROTECT PEOPLE WITH MEDICAL NEEDS, NOT CREATE HARM. ASK CITY LEADERS TO DO EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO CREATE HEALTH PROTECTIONS FOR UNHOUSED PEOPLE WHO ARE PREGNANT OR HAVE OTHER URGENT HEALTH NEEDS.”
LOUISVILLE METRO POLICE RELEASED A STATEMENT SAYING IN PART: “WE TAKE ANY SITUATION INVOLVING VULNERABLE INDIVIDUALS, INCLUDING THOSE EXPERIENCING A MEDICAL EMERGENCY, VERY SERIOUSLY. NO ONE WANTS TO SEE A PREGNANT WOMAN LIVING IN SUCH DEPLORABLE CONDITIONS. ON TWO PREVIOUS OCCASIONS, MEMBERS OF THE SAFE AND HEALTHY STREETS INITIATIVE OFFERED THE WOMAN RESOURCES FOR SHELTER WHICH SHE HAD DECLINED,” ADDING. “WITHOUT THE OFFICER’S INTERVENTION AND CALL FOR EMS, IT IS POSSIBLE THE BABY WOULD HAVE BEEN BORN WITHOUT MEDICAL CARE. WE HOPE SHE AND HER BABY ARE ABLE TO RECEIVE THE CARE AND RESOURCES THEY NEED GOING FORWARD.”
AN AMBULANCE EVENTUALLY ARRIVES AND GETS THE WOMAN TO THE HOSPITAL WHERE SHE DELIVERED HER BABY.
