Poppy Bilderbeck
A pregnant woman took legal action against Arkansas State Police after an officer flipped her car over while pulling her over for alleged speeding.
A member of Arkansas State Police caught a vehicle driving along an Arkansas highway in July 2020, allegedly traveling at 60 miles an hour.
Footage has revealed the moment the officer stopped and flipped over the car using a special maneuver, before realizing the driver inside was pregnant.
Advert
Officer Rodney Dunn performed a maneuver known as the 'PIT' maneuver - precision immobilization technique.
The US Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs explains: "The PIT (Precision Immobilization Technique) Maneuver is a technique used by law enforcement personnel to force a fleeing vehicle to abruptly turn 180 degrees, causing the vehicle to stall and stop."
It's reported Officer Dunn performed the maneuver while the car was still allegedly traveling at 60 miles an hour, and footage has revealed the aftermath of Officer Dunn flipping the vehicle and walking over to the car to check who's inside.
In the recording, the member of authority can be seen asking if the driver is 'the only one in the vehicle'.
The woman - named Janice Harper - responds: "Yes. I'm pregnant!"
When asked why she didn't 'stop,' Harper explained she 'didn't feel like it was safe'.
Dunn replied: "Well, this is where you ended up."
Harper said she 'thought it would be safer to wait until the exit', but Dunn told her you should always 'pull over when law enforcement stops you'.
Harper decided to file a lawsuit against the police force, claiming she'd put on her blinker and emergency lights and had been looking for a safe spot to pull over.
She called the use of the PIT maneuver an 'excessive use of force' and accused the officer of 'negligence' alongside placing not just her life but the life of her unborn child at risk, ABC7 reported at the time.
The lawsuit was ultimately settled and Arkansas State Police agreed to limit how the PIT maneuver can be used, with the lawsuit stating it should only be used should it be to protect an officer or third person from risk of serious injury or death.
Harper's attorney, Andrew Norwood, said, as per AP News: "We are extremely pleased that we were able to secure the policy changes and updated guidelines pertaining to the use of PIT maneuvers which was the primary goal of this case and will help protect all Arkansans moving forward.
"While Mrs. Harper will undoubtedly need time to recover from the psychological trauma she suffered after the PIT maneuver in question, she is excited to close this chapter of her life and focus more on her family."
Arkansas State Police said Officer Dunn was disciplined over the incident, while also stating at the time: "The Arkansas State Police periodically initiates revisions to its pursuit policy to ensure it is consistent with applicable case law and existing training related to the PIT maneuver.
"The department has consistently required its troopers to apply an objectively reasonable standard when using the PIT maneuver and will continue to do so."
It's reported Harper's baby was later delivered and suffered no complications as a result of the incident.