Post by WaTcHeR on Nov 1, 2006 14:43:56 GMT -5
11.01.2006 - A pregnant woman stunned by a Taser during her arrest last month went into premature labor Wednesday night at the Sedgwick County Jail. Now her family blames authorities for the baby's death.
Betty Arnold said Thursday that her 32-year-old niece, Tianesha Robinson, was about five months pregnant and had been experiencing pain and cramping for weeks in jail.
Arnold said she and her niece contend that a combination of the Taser jolts during the Sept. 29 arrest and a lack of care in the jail led to the miscarriage.
Robinson told her aunt that she yelled, "I'm pregnant! I'm pregnant!" while a Sedgwick County sheriff's deputy jolted her with a Taser.
The niece said the deputy pressed the device against her back three times while telling her to get on her stomach.
It is not clear whether Robinson was obviously pregnant at the time.
The sheriff's office is investigating the incident, Undersheriff Bob Hinshaw said.
Sheriff's officials said a deputy arrested Robinson, but couldn't confirm who used a Taser on her. Records of the Taser incident couldn't be obtained Thursday.
Sheriff's Lt. Larry Bragg said Robinson had been "under constant care with our clinic people" at the jail and had seen a doctor who periodically visits the facility.
On Wednesday night, he said, "once it was brought to our staff's attention that she was giving birth, we jumped on it." An ambulance took her to a hospital.
"It is sad that it happened, but I believe strongly that we did everything in our power to see that this would not happen," Bragg said.
The sheriff's office arrested Robinson on suspicion of driving with a suspended driver's license, no proof of insurance, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. She also had multiple city warrants, and is being held for Riley County authorities. She faces a trial Tuesday in Wichita, her aunt said.
Arnold conceded that her niece is "a troubled person." But, she added, "whatever she's done, she doesn't deserve this. The baby didn't do anything."
www.kansas.com/mld/kansas/news/local/crime_courts/15860703.htm
Betty Arnold said Thursday that her 32-year-old niece, Tianesha Robinson, was about five months pregnant and had been experiencing pain and cramping for weeks in jail.
Arnold said she and her niece contend that a combination of the Taser jolts during the Sept. 29 arrest and a lack of care in the jail led to the miscarriage.
Robinson told her aunt that she yelled, "I'm pregnant! I'm pregnant!" while a Sedgwick County sheriff's deputy jolted her with a Taser.
The niece said the deputy pressed the device against her back three times while telling her to get on her stomach.
It is not clear whether Robinson was obviously pregnant at the time.
The sheriff's office is investigating the incident, Undersheriff Bob Hinshaw said.
Sheriff's officials said a deputy arrested Robinson, but couldn't confirm who used a Taser on her. Records of the Taser incident couldn't be obtained Thursday.
Sheriff's Lt. Larry Bragg said Robinson had been "under constant care with our clinic people" at the jail and had seen a doctor who periodically visits the facility.
On Wednesday night, he said, "once it was brought to our staff's attention that she was giving birth, we jumped on it." An ambulance took her to a hospital.
"It is sad that it happened, but I believe strongly that we did everything in our power to see that this would not happen," Bragg said.
The sheriff's office arrested Robinson on suspicion of driving with a suspended driver's license, no proof of insurance, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. She also had multiple city warrants, and is being held for Riley County authorities. She faces a trial Tuesday in Wichita, her aunt said.
Arnold conceded that her niece is "a troubled person." But, she added, "whatever she's done, she doesn't deserve this. The baby didn't do anything."
www.kansas.com/mld/kansas/news/local/crime_courts/15860703.htm