Newly released body camera footage shows a Louisville police officer, Lt. Caleb Stewart, issuing a citation to a pregnant woman who repeatedly told him she was in labor and asked to be left alone.
The woman, whose name was not shared publicly, was cited for illegal street camping under Kentucky’s Safer Kentucky Act, which makes camping on the street a misdemeanor and punishable by a fine... Continue reading here ▶
The incident occurred shortly before she gave birth later that day at a nearby hospital, her public defender told Louisville Public Media (LPM).
Body cam footage shows Lt. Stewart dismissing the woman’s claims of being in labor, accusing her of making up an “outlandish story.” Despite her repeated pleas and stating she was “leaking” and in labor, the officer continued issuing the citation.
“I don’t believe for a second that this woman is going into labor,” Stewart is heard saying in his patrol car. He added that he called EMS “just in case I’m wrong.”
Police and Community Reaction
The Louisville Police Department released a statement supporting officers “using discretion” while on duty, acknowledging that not everyone may agree with their decisions.
However, public defender Ryan Dischinger criticized the officer’s actions, stating, “What she needed was help and compassion, and instead she was met with violence.”
The woman, who gave birth to a healthy baby later that day, is now living in a shelter with her newborn. According to her public defender, she has not received any further assistance from the police department, despite the department taking credit for ensuring she received medical care.
“Without the officer’s intervention and call for EMS, it is possible the baby would have been born without medical care,” the police department claimed.
The Citation and Kentucky’s Law
The citation was issued under Kentucky’s Safer Kentucky Act, which criminalizes street camping. Critics of the law argue it unfairly targets homeless individuals.
“The reality for her, and for anyone who’s homeless in Kentucky, is that they’re constantly and unavoidably breaking this law,” Dischinger said.
Public Outcry
The footage shows the woman visibly distressed as officers confiscated the mattress she had been resting on. She accused the officers of being “evil” and told them, “I’m glad y’all got this job to mess with the homeless and not help society.”
The incident has sparked debate over how law enforcement handles homelessness and the enforcement of the Safer Kentucky Act, with many calling for more compassion and resources for those in need.
