KARE 11 Investigates: Jailed, innocent, in labor - and shackled 

america:"innocent til proven guilty" also America: "guilty without evidence "

This man was robbed of everything that day .not being able to to be with his wife while she was in labor, his job and his dignity.

This same thing happened in my hometown over 30 years ago. The cops were doing a drug bust and got the wrong address. The young woman had just given birth to her first child via C-section. The cops roughed her up so badly, she had to go back to surgery to have repairs done.

I had the cops kick in my door looking for a girl who didn't live with me. Because she didn't show up to court over a shoplifting charge. They had so many cops in and out of my place that you'd think they were looking for a murder suspect. It was ridiculous. So much taxpayers money wasted.

The homeowner doesn’t even look like the guy in the video. It’s as plain as day; the homeowner is Middle Eastern and the guy who got the snowblower is white as snow.

Police: "This is a stupid search warrant for a snow blower!" I wasn't aware a snow blower required an entire swat team.

For those wondering happened afterward: County paid 500k to the family after it was settled in court. Nobody was fired. The lead detective was forced to take an unpaid vacation for 3 days.

Wow…I don’t think it could have gotten any worse. The poor husband even lost his job due to false allegations and the poor wife went into labor, having her first baby all alone. 😢 How traumatic!!!

They tried to get Sarah deported to avoid a lawsuit. And why weren't they going after the man in the video who committed the thefts instead of the person who unknowingly bought the credit? Just horrible situation all the way around.

In shackles, do they think she's going to sprint off running, what evil people

This is exactly why people don’t trust the police! Totally uncalled for! The entire “raid” shouldn’t have even happened over a snowblower! Especially when neither of the people in the home were the man in the security video. What they did to that woman was horrific! What a way to remember your child’s birth! Completely disgusting!

In 2003, I was incarcerated in the Beaver County jail in Pennsylvania. I was having labor pains starting around 4pm.I was in my late 30s, and this was my 6th pregnancy. I was 39 weeks and considered high risk due to other health issues I've had since childhood. After constant urging from myself and fellow inmates, medical came with a wheelchair saying I was finally being taken to hospital. That didn't happen. I was taken to booking and put in a cell. No hospital. At 6am, they brought breakfast and when I stood up, the blood covered the entire cells floor. They did call an ambulance but...I laid there bleeding, waiting over 2 hours for a sherif to escort the ambulance. By the grace of God, a correction officer came in to booking, saw me literally laying in a pool of blood bigger than my entire body and he snapped and took matters into his own hands. The doctor was amazed that I was still alive and that my daughter, born via emergency c-section was also alive. I had placenta privia. It is often fatal to mother and baby in ideal situation. I should have sued, but I didn't. And for those wondering...I was there for shoplifters. An item costing less than 10 dollars.

They ruined that moment for her. She will never forget it.

The police are too blame 100%. If they would INVESTIGATE rather than kick in the door!!!!

Can you imagine the fear and stress this woman was in! 😔

Over a snowblower! Not a rape, not a murder, not a kidnapping etc. but a stolen snowblower that they didn’t steal. This is crazy! That poor couple they never should have had to go through that and giving birth is a precious moment and a precious memory that is now scared. Not fair. The police never can right away take responsibility for their actions, because they are to busy trying to either sweep it under the rug or trying to make it look far less insane. So they don’t look bad or lose their precious pensions.

So they sent a whole swat team for a snow blower. They act like they stole a military tank!

Unbelievable. A prime example of the police doing everything WRONG but will never be held accountable for what they put this young couple through.

When life is treated with such callousness, there's a deep, deep, unforgivable transgression against humanity.

The embarrassment that women must of gone through.... just the fact she was brought into the hospital like she was will have the hospital staff looking at you differently and treating you differently. This poor woman will never forget this and if she gets pregnant again that's gonna eat at her when it should never be like this

Every "officer" involved in this should be fired and have to personally pay restitution to this couple. This is beyond outrageous. I wish I could be a juror in this courtroom when it goes to trial!

I'm sure they investigated themselves and found they did nothing wrong.

This should be a massive law suit in several areas

After what they put this couple thru, I hope they sue on multiple charges. I can't imagine what this pregnant lady had to encounter

A police department should NOT be able to investigate it's self what a complete violation of finding the real truth of civilians rights being violated!

The police should be sued for melicous prosecution and abuse of a pregnant woman.

Shackling a pregnant woman while in labor is ridiculous even if she was correctly arrested where is a pregnant woman going? Why are shackles required? This poor woman was even guilty of this crime and she had to endure all this. Definitely hit them with a nice big fat lawsuit.

The wife won $500K as everything they did to her was illegal under state and federal law. All charges were dropped against the husband and several cops got in trouble over the house raid. He never got his job back and they moved to another state to get away from the bad memories.

"This is a stupid warrant for a snowblower" is exactly what the officer said.

They have detectives. They get a search warrant. They raid a house, over a stupid snow machine

This entire story, from the beginning where the officers bust into their home, all the way until the end, is just ATROCIOUS!!!😡😡😡 I really hope ALL parties involved are held accountable for this!

Pregnant inmates shouldn’t be shackled!! It’s inhumane and barbaric!!! These are people! WOMEN!!!! If she’s giving birth she’s not running anywhere especially when there’s officers in the room and outside the door!! Birth isn’t supposed to be stressful and purposely uncomfortable & scary!!

That man lost his engineering job and so on . They at least owe them millions. This video is almost unbelievable 😳. That's terrible

Giving birth to your child, especially your first, is literally a once in a lifetime experience. It's painful but so joyous. They took that away from a innocent woman. It's disgusting how most cops feel they're above the law themselves.

How could they rob her of one of the happiest moments in life 😢

The fact that people can be kidnapped and tortured humiliated-without ever having been charged or found guilty is wrong. Not to mention losing everything. Poor police work.

Basically, they treated the snowblower like a hostage other than suspiciously purchased merchandise.

It’s a snowblower not a g’damn fugitive. The fact that he lost his job, and she gave birth in prison….yea they need to get paid ASAP……get those m&m’s ready.

This could be made into a movie with all the twist turns and injustices.

When you think you've seen the worst from the Cops! This is extremely wicked!!! Doing that to a heavily pregnant woman? Incredible.🙄

The husband lost his job and his wife shackled while giving birth. And, why did the police bring so much man power for this?

Those were not peace officers, they were thugs. How unprofessional they were.

They said it....WOW. This is outrageous on SOOOOO many different levels.

Bless her heart!! This enrages me!

They shackled her legs together while in active labor and her water had broke. That’s just wrong in every way!

This police department is sick 🤮 I'm so glad the baby did not die. These people have no moral compass.

I hope she gets enough money to support the family for the rest of their lives!

All this over a simple misunderstanding. Unbelievable......

But even if they DID steal the thing, they raided this house like they were coming for a low level drug lord, not a snowblower. Why are they so weird?

They will investigate themselves and as usual find they did nothing wrong .

This had to be the world’s most costly, decked out, and coolest snow blower that ever existed in the history of mankind. How damn much could this snow blower have cost? Even if it was a theft over (a term used in Illinois for thefts over $300), to get a search warrant, a warrant service team, and I’m guessing having made NO other attempts at contacting the suspect before battery ramming their front door in under 30 seconds has to be a record of incompetence! Was this some miracle snow blower that could plow through 25-30’ of snow like those in The Lake Tahoe region, or was this particular area of Minnesota tremendously short on snow blowers at this point in time? As a dispatcher with 24 years of experience 10-13 police departments, and 5 fire departments, not including mutual aid, do I ever recall any type of incident like this EVER! Perhaps this is the only type of call this department has to occupy its officers. I’m petrified to think what if this were a stolen vehicle, wanted person or maybe even something less concerning like a parking complaint, or stray dog? This is absolutely ridiculous, insane, perilous, disgusting, inept, and to think that this is the best Minnesota has to offer its citizens? Minnesota just keeps punching itself in the face giving itself more black eyes! Way to draw more people to your state, random incorrect search warrants for snow blowers, intimidation, civil rights violations, and denial of any wrongdoing. 👌 Better start checking those 10,000 Lakes for missing Police Informants 🤔

With all the violations, you must think this Police unit is going to be $5M to $10M lighter. UPDATE: They only got $500K

Trying to deport her before she could sue is a really nice touch. Exactly what I've come to expect from our government.

I'm livid for this mother and father.

That should be worth millions for the family.

This is despicable. This should bankrupt the department and them start over. Criminals with badges.

That’s horrible. Her child felt her moms emotions. The incoming lawsuit should be 7 figures.

I’m so proud of these attorneys

It’s disgusting 🤢 that they shackled her! Not only is it illegal it’s very dangerous to the woman and the baby if she was to trip and fall 😢

"Injustice anywhere is threat to justice everywhere." We are now beginning to see just how true those words were.

a guy lost his job over a misunderstanding that is all the police's fault....

What's this world coming to when justice doesn't exist. They put the woman's life and unborn child in danger.

They take every step to cover their error instead of admiting

Why didn't 2 cops go to the house, talk to the occupants about what was going on, verify the who what when and where and be done with it instead of basically attacking this family? This happens way too often.

Every single bit of this story is absolutely horrific and I feel horrible for that mother. Edit: we investigated ourselves and found nothing wrong.

Why in the world was the wife, Sara, ever arrested. The husband shouldn't have been arrested either, but seriously a pregnant woman. And then they try to get her kicked out of the country.

The law prohibiting the shackling of a pregnant woman can _only_ be violated by a LEO. Let me guess, the officers will receive qualified immunity and will be somehow shielded from prosecution.

How disgusting is this??? They go overboard and nail innocent people but let horrendous criminals go free all the time. The moment the error was discovered, everything should have been resolved!!!

All this for a snowblower? Are these the war games we need police outfitted like soldiers for? Lord.

American cops have to have a law that says you can’t Shackle a woman having a baby, what is wrong with America,

Moral of story: if you buy store credits online, police will come to your home dressed as civilians, shoot their guns, break your door down, and God knows what else!

He lost a great paying job the right to see his baby born and she had to be treated like a slave and almost deported over the law enforcements mistakes and lack of investigation. I hope they sue and win millions because they deserve it this is sad and sick.

It's a shame these cops continue to break laws and do what they want.

i'd say probably 2 or 3 million minimum lawsuit and easy win for the couple

The sheriff has investigated his officers and says they did nothing wrong, "I'm proud of my boys for taking this dangerous criminal into custody without incident. Actually, we got two for the price of one with her being pregnant."

Every cop or sheriff involved in that botched warrant should be charged sentenced and put in prison!!!!

Shouldn't there be a higher IQ test for officers , most seem Not to smart

Even with their faces blurred they look nothing like the man from the store surveillance. I must have missed something.

A warrant was issued by a judge. It doesn’t matter if the charges were dropped or not. District attorneys do that all the time.

I cried so hard, i cried because the husband lost his job, i cried because the wife was scared, humiliated and refused care when she's in labor, and i mostly cried because they did not and will never get the justice they deserve. I hope some witches out there cursed those police officers.

I hope they sue. This isn't just one "misunderstanding". This is a whole string of inappropriate actions taken by police ending with them trying to deport a completely innocent woman (probably to try to avoid being sued.) Disgusting!

This is sad I hope her family gets the baby so they can raise their grandchild. Heartbreaking

The baby didn’t commit any crimes. Even the mom didn’t commit any crime. Outrageous.

You know why they didn't give them the benefit of the doubt. We know exactly why this couple were picked out. sue them for everything they got

This is horrible. As a woman I feel for the and mother and father. This shouldn't happen, especially over a damn snow blowing machine stolen. Bad decision of the officers

Wow! Unbelievable! This is Nothing Short from a Home Invasion! Kidnapping, attack etc!…

The police did what they did because they know “they’re only doing their job”. And that they can break, violate ,steal & lie about it, they’re legally allowed. 👮🏻‍♂️”Back the blue till it happens to you”😢

So, the police broke into an innocent couple's home, kidnapped them, denied the wife immediate medical care and almost shot them. Yet, they investigated themselves and found no wrongdoing. All while ruining this man's career and reputation.

I hope we get an update on this one. That young couple deserves one hell of a payoff .

I would bring lawsuits against both police departments. One lawsuit from the father, Another lawsuit from the mother, And another lawsuit from the child.

How the f do they think she could deliver a baby with her feet shackled together.

Over a snowblower…what a joke

The law doesn't want to lose face when they make a mistake. Hope this family files a huge suit for this. Just insane.

How could you shackle a woman’s legs together when she’s literally giving birth, and she couldn’t change positions because her arms were tied down. Terrifying.

She settled for $500,000. She should have gotten $50 million.

They tired ro deport her and lied saying she shot at police.. now that's low

Holding a pregnant lady in a cell for 36 hours so we can see "IF A CRIME WAS COMMITTED". DISGUSTING.

Every day it's another display of unqualified individuals employed by police departments throughout the country.

So not only was she shackled, she had police officers in the delivery room with her, instead of her husband. Dang , I hope she wins big time.

The husband should have his job back and the lawsuit should be HUGE!!!