Pregnant woman tased for resisting arrest at Roseland Walgreens - Chicago News and Weather | FOX 32 News

A pregnant woman was tasered by Chicago police during a dispute over a parking ticket Tuesday night.

The incident took place in the parking lot of a Roseland Walgreens, at 103rd and Michigan Ave.

Tiffany Rent – who is not handicapped, but is eight months pregnant - was ticketed for parking in a handicapped spot. She tore up the ticket, threw it at the officer and tried to take off, according to police.

The officer tasered Rent, 30, to subdue her. Her family told the Chicago Tribune she was still seated in her vehicle when the taser was used.

"She is eight months pregnant, that is no reason to use excessive force," said Rent's mother, Tonie. "He knew she was pregnant when he tased her."

Rent's fiance Joseph Hobbs, who is also the father of the baby, was in the car at the time of the incident. He was also arrested for getting involved in the incident. Rent's young son and daughter, ages 9 and 3, also witnessed the incident.

The police department said the officer may not have known Rent was pregnant. Rent was taken to Roseland Hospital after a female officer noticed she was pregnant on the scene.

"You can't always tell if someone's pregnant," said Chicago Police Supt. Garry McCarthy. "You want to use [a taser] where you're overcoming an assault or preventing escape — that's what it boils down to. That policy has been in effect for quite some time. Whether or not that policy has been adhered to is going to be examined separately from the investigation of the use of force."

According to a nursing supervisor, the baby was not harmed. Rent was treated and released.

Both Hobbs and Rent were charged with misdemeanor resisting arrest and simple assault. The pregnant woman was also cited for parking in a handicapped spot.

Rent was taken to UIC to get checked out because of pains she suffered Wednesday at her court appearance, and was released from the hospital later. Her family told the Tribune she has lost three babies in the past.

Her mother, sister, father-in-law and fiance were also at the hearing.