Woman in Labor Forced to the Ground/Held at Gunpoint by Cops on Way to Hospital

[lawildcat]

My first thought was why didn't they call 911 to report why they couldn't stop but as I read, I see that they tried but the 911 operator couldn't understand her. I still don't understand how it got the point that she was forced to the ground.

 

 

Pregnant Iowa woman in labor forced to ground at gunpoint by cops for speeding on way to hospital - NY Daily News

 

A pregnant woman was held at gunpoint on her way to the hospital after she and her husband refused to pull over their speeding car Tuesday in Fort Dodge, Iowa.

 

Rachel and Ben Kohnen sped to the hospital at about 4 a.m. Tuesday morning as Rachel Kohnen was in labor. They drove at 85 mph in a 55 mph zone, police said.

 

The Kohnens did not stop the car after an officer pursued them, Manson Police Chief Tom Ritts told the Daily News. The officer called for backup, and police laid tire spikes on the road to stop them.

 

Ben Kohnen told NBC13 the spikes blew out all four tires and forced them to come to a halt. The couple was ordered to the ground and held at gunpoint until officers realized what all the rush was about.

 

Rachel Kohnen gave birth to the couple’s fourth child, a nearly-10-pound baby named Hazel, about an hour after police escorted her to the hospital.

 

Rachel Kohnen said they could not stop the car because the baby was on its way quickly.

 

"I think I was screaming, 'Oh, dear God, we can't have the baby in the car," the mother told NBC13.

 

The couple tried to call 911 to alert them, but the dispatcher could not understand them, Ritts said.

 

"She was in so much pain," he said. "They couldn't make heads or tails out of what she was saying."

 

The police chief said the officer did not know why the car would not stop and followed typical protocol for a high speed chase.

 

"Normally when you get somebody clocked like that and they fail to pull over, the first thought in my mind is we've got somebody drunk or on drugs," Ritts said.

 

No charges have been filed against the couple at this time, Ritts said.

[True blue (and gold)]

I don't see any problem with what the police did here.

[Clyde]

I don't see any problem with what the police did here.

 

Not sure about the gunpoint part but no issue with stopping them.

[woodsrider]

Not sure about the gunpoint part but no issue with stopping them.

You run from the cops like this you will end up on the ground at gun point pretty much everytime. They should have stop immediately and explained what was going on. Most likely would have gotten same escort and not even a ticket.

[lawildcat]

Definitely no issue with stopping them; just not sure how it progressed that far. The husband definitely should have stopped though. He put all of their lives in jeopardy.

[Clyde]

You run from the cops like this you will end up on the ground at gun point pretty much everytime. They should have stop immediately and explained what was going on. Most likely would have gotten same escort and not even a ticket.

 

So give me the reason getting put on the ground at gunpoint is automatic here.

 

We agree they should have stopped and explained. Now they get forced to stop. They're in the car. What do you see happening that caused them to have a gun drawn and them put on the ground?

 

I can see if they ran out of their car at the officer. Do we think they did something like that?

[theguru]

Not sure about the gunpoint part but no issue with stopping them.

 

Anytime you use force to stop a vehicle pursuit you handle it at gunpoint. If the officers didn't do it at gunpoint they should be disciplined for a huge lapse in officer safety.

[theguru]

So give me the reason getting put on the ground at gunpoint is automatic here.

 

We agree they should have stopped and explained. Now they get forced to stop. They're in the car. What do you see happening that caused them to have a gun drawn and them put on the ground?

 

I can see if they ran out of their car at the officer. Do we think they did something like that?

 

I am going to go further, I love you like a brother but you have no clue...

[Clyde]

I am going to go further, I love you like a brother but you have no clue...

 

I've never done the job so "no clue" would probably be fair.

[theguru]

I've never done the job so "no clue" would probably be fair.

 

I don't mean to be so hard but when you run from the police, and that is what these people did, it is a felony in progress and you have to treat them like felons until you have them secured and then you can figure out the rest.

 

And before any of you hand me any :poop: the last time I checked a pregnant woman can fire a gun just fine.

[littleluck55]

My guess is they were ordered out of the car and onto the ground from a safe distance. Probably from cover of the cruiser. Once on the ground, the police can assess the situation. And if one of them comes running at officer to explain the situation, they would be lucky not to be shot.

[Clyde]

I don't mean to be so hard but when you run from the police, and that is what these people did, it is a felony in progress and you have to treat them like felons until you have them secured and then you can figure out the rest.

 

And before any of you hand me any :poop: the last time I checked a pregnant woman can fire a gun just fine.

 

Cool. You know I didn't take any offense to your post.

[lawildcat]

I don't mean to be so hard but when you run from the police, and that is what these people did, it is a felony in progress and you have to treat them like felons until you have them secured and then you can figure out the rest.

 

And before any of you hand me any :poop: the last time I checked a pregnant woman can fire a gun just fine.

 

No crap from me. Like Clyde, I have no clue what protocol is. Thanks for clearing it up for me. As I said, they should have stopped and explained the situation or the husband should have been the one talking to the 911 operator.

[75center]

Husband should have pulled over immediately and explained the situation. Dangerous situation could have ended badly.

[LRCW]

I understand the need and desire to get to the hospital ASAP, but going 30 MPH over the limit is a bit extreme and a little dangerous if you ask me.