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Gilbert police investigating officer accused of punching pregnant woman

Posted at 11:08 PM, Mar 06, 2017
and last updated 2017-03-07 14:46:58-05

Gilbert Police have launched an internal investigation after a video surfaced online showing an altercation between an officer and a woman claiming to be pregnant.

Gilbert police said they were in the area of Elliott and Gilbert roads around 6:30 p.m. Sunday, trying to arrest Rickeda Jobe, 24, for violating a court order.

The video, which surfaced on YouTube and Facebook, shows Jobe in handcuffs and three officers around her.

"She was resisting, she was yelling at them, and then they kind of pushed her against the SUV that was parked out here," said Sophia Perez who shot video of the incident.

Perez and her mother Margaret Guiterrez watched from 30 feet away in their front yard. They say they saw one of the officers pull the woman's hair and handling her in an aggressive manner.


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During the struggle, witnesses say Jobe yelled she was pregnant.

Witnesses say Jobe spit in one of the officer's face.

Witnesses say, seconds later, the officer struck Jobe with a closed fist.

The video does not show the alleged punch.

"If that was my daughter, oh hell no. There is no way in hell that they would've done that to her," said Margaret Gutierrez.

"I do believe he should be fired, I don't think that that is OK at all," added Perez.

"I mean they arrest people every day for domestic violence, and putting their hands on women," said Perez.

Gilbert Police say the officer has been placed on restricted duty, pending the outcome of the investigation.

Jobe is now facing two counts of aggravated assault against a police officer, resisting arrest, and violating a court order.

ABC15 attempted to contact Jobe, however she was unavailable for comment.