A DeKalb County police officer is under criminal investigation after being accused of kicking a woman who was almost nine months pregnant, Channel 2 Action News reported.
Raven Dozier said she was trying to help her brother calm down during a child custody issue that involved police. She said she started crying and questioning officers after a Taser gun was used on her brother.
"I think he really just didn't want me asking him any questions, questioning him, and when I did question him is when he kicked me," Dozier told Channel 2.
"I was upset because I couldn't believe an officer would kick me, with my child in my stomach," she said.
Dozier gave birth to her now 4-month-old son, Levii, in an emergency C-section two weeks after the incident allegedly left her stomach bruised. The baby is healthy.
Officer Jerad Wheeler described the incident as "a front push kick to the abdomen, as he was taught to do at the academy," in his police report. He said he couldn't tell that Dozier was pregnant and that she aggressively approached him.
An obstruction charge against Dozier was dropped by prosecutors.
Dozier complained to the DeKalb Police Department, and authorities determined the officer's actions were within police policy, Channel 2 said.
DeKalb police did not comment on the incident to Channel 2.
Two other complaints about use of force have been filed against Wheeler, including when he allegedly shot a family's dog after responding to the wrong address, the report said.
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