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Loading...Georgia Cop Kicks Pregnant Woman In The Stomach
Dekalb County, GA, police officer Jerad Wheeler is accused of kicking a 9-months pregnant woman in the stomach. Wheeler was responding to a domestic disturbance – Raven Dozier’s mother and brother were involved in an argument, and at some point, the police were called.
When Wheeler used a taser on Dozier’s brother, she cried out in response. Taking this as a sign of aggression, Wheeler decided the appropriate course of action was to kick the visibly-pregnant woman in the belly. Then, with no concern for possible injury to Dozier or her child, he dragged her to jail, intending to charge her with obstruction of justice. Guards at the police station sent her to the hospital for treatment, and then refused to book her when she was brought back following a doctor’s visit.
During the hospital visit, doctors noted contusions and spotting. Her attorney states that the child became ill within the womb as a result of the impact. Dozier’s son Levi was born via an emergency c-section two weeks following the incident, and the family reports that the child is doing well. But Wheeler’s actions could have easily had tragic consequences.
Wheeler is defending his actions, claiming that it was dark and Dozier was wearing loose clothing, and that he had no idea she was pregnant. He also claimed that he was using an officially-sanctioned move he was taught at the police academy. Five of Wheeler’s supervisors have also defended him, refusing to follow up on Dozier’s complaint to the department.
This is despite a history of inappropriate force by Wheeler. He’s been the focus of two other questionable incidents. In 2011, he was accused of forcing a 53-year-old woman’s face onto a police vehicle while twisting her arm. Her crime? Showing up at the scene of her daughter’s car accident to check on her young grandchildren.
In January, Wheeler shot and killed a family’s leashed dog inside their garage after showing up to the wrong home on a call. Three other Dekalb county officers have been charged with beating teenage suspects while they were in handcuffs, suggesting that this is a systemic issue within the police force.
While it’s impossible to say exactly what role race played in the assault and subsequent cover-up by Dekalb police, it’s important to note that Raven Dozier is a black woman and Wheeler is a white man in a position of power. With incidents like the Trayvon Martin case fresh in collective memory, it’s important to keep in mind the role that race often plays in the lax enforcement and investigation of crimes against African-Americans.
As a result of the public outcry over the incident, Wheeler is currently under criminal investigation.
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Seattle Officer Punches Teenage Girl in the Face for Jaywalking
Read more: police brutality, pregnant woman, racism, violence against women
Photo credit: J.K. Califf via Flickr
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Recent Comments from Causes
Even with the advantage of being right, you can never beat a man whose job depends upon your being wrong.…
Beautiful. Thanks Harmony Fund, PAWS rescue and especially Glenda.
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Disgraceful! Fire and jail the pig!.
What the fuck is wrong with this state?! Sounds like a terrifying place to live.
This cop should be fired and jailed. Corrupt pigs are everywhere.
It's a police state:( We are not safe from criminals, we are not safe from police, we are not safe from government. We are not safe.
Why the hell does he still have a job? He should be in jail!!
When are cops going to be held accountable for their improper actions??? There are far to many that abuse the powers they are entrusted with. They use Tasers, their guns, their fists, their feet, Pepper Spray, their billy clubs and any other weapon at their disposal in many cases when their is no threat against them just so they can fuel their ego's with the abuse of power. They are SUPPOSE to be public servants, yet they treat all citizens with contempt like we are there to bow to their power when it is they who are their to "protect and serve" the public. These cops give a bad name to all those who do the job properly and destroy the respect they should command. We need to start IMMEDIATELY with the repeal of the Patriot Act and repeal any law that weakens our constitution and all other legislation that has been passed as a knee-jerk reaction to 9/11 that has taken away the rights guaranteed to us under the US Constitution!!!
Whoa, this is the same guy who killed the dog at the wrong house. Why they hell is he still active? Sounds like the whole police force is corrupt to let him continue working. What an asshole!!!
Petition to get this under full investigation with suspension is needed.
After all he's done, I'm wondering why he's still a cop?! He should've been fired long ago.
This man should either be fired immediately or forced to have intensive therapy. He is a walking time bomb. One incident I could possibly overlook, but his record reeks. My grandfather was a Police Chief and would have had this man's butt in a New York minute. You look to your police officers for safety, not for the type of actions he has portrayed. On second thought, to hell with the therapy, just fire him. He doesn't deserve to be wearing a badge.
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