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.
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After reviewing DeSue’s bodycam footage, a local sheriff's department confirmed he had violated department standards.
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.”
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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
Aisha Nozari