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Read the press release here.

Brooklyn DA to Probe NYPD Officer Filmed Allegedly Shoving Pregnant Woman

By Nikhita Venugopal | September 30, 2014 6:09pm
 Sandra Amezquita stood alongside her attorney Sanford Rubenstein in front of 350 Jay St. Tuesday afternoon.
Sandra Amezquita stood alongside her attorney Sanford Rubenstein in front of 350 Jay St. Tuesday afternoon.
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DNAinfo/Nikhita Venugopal

DOWNTOWN BROOKLYN — The Brooklyn District Attorney’s office is launching an investigation into an incident involving two women — one of whom is pregnant — who claim they were thrown to the ground by police officers in Sunset Park, officials said.

“We take these allegations seriously and we are investigating all aspects of this incident,” a spokeswoman for Kings County DA Ken Thompson said.

Sandra Amezquita, who is five months pregnant, said she was slammed to the ground by a police officer attempting to arrest her on Fifth Avenue near 41st Street on Sept. 20.

A video of the incident shows Amezquita landing on the ground as officers restrained her.

Moments later, the video shows another NYPD officer shoving Mercedes Hidalgo, who said she was rushing over to tell officers that Amezquita was pregnant.

VIDEO: Altercation Between Police Officers and Women in Sunset Park
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Facebook/El Grito De Sunset Park

The officer who pushed Hidalgo was placed on modified duty, sources said. The officer who allegedly used excessive force against Amezquita was under investigation by the Internal Affairs Bureau, they added.

The two women and their lawyers met with Marc Fliedner, chief of the DA’s newly revamped Civil Rights bureau, on Tuesday, attorney Sanford Rubenstein said. 

Rubenstein said the investigation would be independent from the NYPD’s ongoing investigation.

“This family wants justice,” said Rubenstein during a press conference Tuesday after the meeting. He called for the police officers to be held criminally accountable for their actions. 

Attorney Darren Fields, who is representing Amezquita and others for the criminal charges they face from the incident, said he hoped the DA would drop the charges after the investigation.

Amezquita was medically examined after the fall but doctors told her they could not immediately say whether there were any health issues for the baby, Rubenstein said.

“I pray to go God that my child isn’t born sick,” Amezquita said in Spanish through a translator.