A new lawsuit, filed by a Georgia woman, claims that Albany police officers beat her so badly, and sat on her noticeably pregnant belly that it caused her to have a miscarriage.
Lawyers for Kenya Harris filed the case in federal court recently, according to Courthouse News. Harris explained that the incident happened when she went to the Albany Police Department back in May of 2011. She was there to pick up her son – a minor – after he had been arrested.
After waiting five hours for her son, Harris told Officer Ryan Jenkins that it had been an extremely long time, and she needed to return home soon to take care of her other children.
“Defendant Officer Jenkins stated that he did not appreciate the tone in which she was communicating with him, and further stated that if she continued he would take her head and ‘put it to the floor,’” Harris charged in the lawsuit.
She reiterated that she needed to take care of her other children. That’s when Officer Jenkins made good on his threats and decided to use force against the obviously pregnant woman.
“Defendant Officer Jenkins, without provocation, grabbed plaintiff, who weighs less than one hundred twenty (120) pounds, by her neck and slammed her to the ground,” the lawsuit explained.
“Plaintiff momentarily blacked out and came to with defendant Officer Jenkins sitting on her back, and with his knee on her arm. Plaintiff was pregnant at the time.
“Defendant Officer Jenkins put handcuffs on plaintiff and slammed her against the wall. Plaintiff was placed into an interrogation room after she was beaten and handcuffed.”
In utter agony, Harris begged for medical attention, but every officer she spoke to refused her request.
For her troubles, she was charged with obstruction, and spent the night in the Dougherty County Jail.
Harris contends that the beating, including having her stomach sat on by the officer, caused her miscarriage shortly after the incidence. She also had injuries to her knee, neck and bruising all over her body.
The federal lawsuit specifically names Officers Ryan Jenkins and Richard Brown, Jr., Police Chief John Proctor, and the City of Albany.
“With malice, defendants Officer Jenkins and with the compliance of Officer Brown, repeatedly slammed Ms. Harris, causing her severe physical harm and the loss of her baby, when less force was required and should have been used,” the lawsuit said.