A police officer has reportedly been forced to resign in Florida after they were caught on camera pulling a gun on a pregnant woman.
The moment occurred during a traffic stop, when Bradford County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Jason DeSue tried to pull over mum-of-three Ebony Washington for speeding.
Washington - whose kids were in the back of the car - was travelling from Gainesville to Jacksonville and was allegedly doing 75 in a 55 miles per hour zone. Watch the moment he pulled out his gun:
Instead of immediately pulling over, Washington switched on her emergency lights and carried on driving as she wanted to find a well-lit area to pull over so as not to scare her kids.
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She told 11 News: “It was dark [and I was] with my kids. I felt uncomfortable. I didn’t want to be able to not have anyone else around.”
Scarily, DeSue could then be heard saying: “Pull the vehicle over, or I’ll put you into the ground,” on bodycam footage.
He was using his vehicle’s loudspeaker so that Washington could hear.
Washington pulled over at a petrol station and DeSue exited his car, marched over to Washington and pulled his gun out before shouting: “If you make any movement, that’ll be your last mistake you’re gonna make. Do not move.”
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Exiting her car and leaving her kids inside, Washington apologised to the officer, explaining: “I’m trying to tell you the only reason why I didn’t stop.”
She added: “I’m a very educated woman with a master’s degree… I was only not because it’s dark out and I have three kids with me. I’m pregnant, and I did not want them to feel uncomfortable.”
DeSue responded: “Shut up about the why. Don’t care about the why,” before issuing Washington a parking ticket.
After reviewing DeSue’s bodycam footage, a local sheriff's department confirmed he had violated department standards.
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UNILAD has approached Bradford County Sheriff’s Office for comment.
Speaking to GMA about the incident in a recent interview, Washington said she was ‘afraid for her life’.
The footage caused outrage on Twitter, with one person writing: “This 🐖 didn't care that this woman was pregnant, that she had her kids in the car, that they were all in fear for their lives. Their fear meant nothing to him.”
Another added: “I had to punch a wall,” while a third said: “The taxpayers get to pay for this officer's inflated sense of importance. She deserves to hold the Sheriff accountable.”
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Topics: US News, World News, Police