Pregnant black woman who miscarried after California cops 'pulled her from a car, piled on top of her and stomped on her stomach leaving a shoe mark' sues police department

A California woman has filed a lawsuit against a police department alleging that they pulled her from a car, piled on top of her and stomped her stomach, causing her to have a miscarriage. 

Emerald Black alleged in the lawsuit filed on Monday that officers from the San Leandro Police Department caused her to have a miscarriage when she and her fiance were stopped in June 2019. 

According to the lawsuit, police stopped the couple for 'bad registration tags'. During the stop, police reportedly asked Black and her fiance to step out of their vehicle. 

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Emerald Black alleged in the lawsuit filed on Monday that officers from the San Leandro Police Department (file image) caused her to have a miscarriage when she and her fiance were stopped in June 2019

Because she was 'visibly pregnant', Black asked officers if she could remain inside the vehicle. 

Despite her request, the unidentified officers allegedly 'yanked Ms. Black from the car, taunted her, piled on top of her and stomped on her stomach leaving a show mark,' the lawsuit alleges.  

Just days later, Black had a miscarriage, according to the lawsuit. Black alleges that her pregnancy ended 'as a result of the officers’ excessive force'.

Black also 'suffered other physical injuries, embarrassment, humiliation and emotional distress both from the incident and loss of her child,' the suit says. 

She was never charged with a crime.    

Her lawyer, Patrick Buelna, told Vice News that 'it's important to note that Ms. Black had committed absolutely no crimes, nor was she even suspected of any'. 

'She was simply a passenger in the car being pulled over for a minor vehicle infraction,' Buelna added. 

Buelna said Black wanted to remain in the vehicle because she was pregnant and 'had just left the hospital earlier that day and learned she was at risk for a miscarriage'. 

'If officers were adamant about her exiting the car, they should have simply, and gently, assisted Ms. Black getting out of the car. Instead they treated her like she had just committed a violent felony,' Buelna told Vice.

Black is seeking general and punitive damages 'in a sum to be proven at trial'.

She is also suing for damages for loss of wages and income as well as medical expenses.