Kansas City police saw a woman driver place a fake tag in the window of her car and pulled her over. During the stop, 33-year-old Sofia Salva asked repeatedly for help, saying she was three months pregnant and bleeding. The officers continued with their tasks, to include running her name through their system, and subsequently arrested her. Sofia was released the next day. After going to the hospital, she miscarried.
There are those of us in society who, inexperienced with the profound likelihood of violence and sometimes death with even the most routine parts of our jobs, would have taken Sofia to the hospital right then and there. The more experienced among us, those we have entrusted with the care and safety of our community and who do have said experience, did not.
Sofia was not a law-abiding citizen. She was not known for her kindness toward others or respect for property boundaries, and she treated traffic laws like a cafeteria. None of this is justification for the officers not taking her to the hospital. All of this, however, is the explanation.
For her part, Sofia knew she was in distress and did not call 911 for an ambulance while she was still at the store. It comes as no surprise to those who are familiar with people who consider themselves above the law, to learn of someone who resisted inviting that which they see as associated with law enforcement - even at their own expense.
Did Sofia weigh her options and decide it was better to take herself to the hospital rather than risk calling for an ambulance? She knew she had warrants. She knew she was driving illegally. Given her experience as a criminal, it’s a good bet she also knew she'd be arrested, eventually, if she had called an ambulance.
Article comments
1 - Nicole
Regardless of her criminal history, if she repeatedly asked for help, and told police that she was three months pregnant and bleeding, why was she denied medical care and allowed to sit in jail for ten hours? As a mother, I've never miscarried, but a close friend of mine miscarried at three months. The pain and contractions are similar to delivering a full term baby and the fetus still must pass through the uterus. Regardless of her crminal background or intentions, I think its sad that Kansas City police put the importance of making an arrest over the health and welfare of the woman. They could have easily arrested her and took her to the hospital in police custody. As a young woman who's seen police behave illegally with my own two eyes, it makes me loose even more faith in local law enforcement.