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Chicago Tribune
2 days ago
- Chicago Tribune
Video of Merrillville woman's arrest by Lake County Sheriff's Department shows excessive force before miscarriage, lawyer says
A Merrillville woman's lawyer said recently released bodycam footage backs up her accusations that Lake County Sheriff's deputies forcibly pulled her from a vehicle during an arrest despite knowing she was pregnant. Three months later, she had a miscarriage. I'm '(expletive) pregnant,' Shikeia Randolph, 31, yells just before two officers pull her from a red Chevrolet Trailblazer, according to video obtained by the Post-Tribune through a public records request. A federal lawsuit accusing the officers of excessive force was filed two months ago in the U.S. District Court in Hammond. It alleges that a 3:24 a.m. traffic stop on June 5, 2023 was 'pretextual' — for an issue with a license plate cover, then a school truancy warrant — and quickly spiraled out of control. The video from an officer's dashboard camera appears to show, as she is arrested, the two officers turn her on her stomach as one pins her down to handcuff her hands behind her back. Randolph previously told the Post-Tribune she had just stopped for milk at a 24-hour gas station in Gary near Ridge Road and Grant Street with her four kids in the vehicle. She was supposed to drop them off at her mother's house, then head to her early shift as a receptionist at the Gary Housing Authority. Officer Peter Hamady, who pulled her over, is named with the sheriff's department in the lawsuit. His lawyer Casey McCloskey declined comment. In a federal filing on Aug. 7, McCloskey formally denied the accusations against Hamady, saying in part that his actions were 'objectively reasonable' and protected by 'qualified immunity.' Some of Randolph's claims could fall outside of a two-year statute of limitations, he wrote. McCloskey argued because Randolph refused to get out of her SUV, she forced cops to go after her, according to court documents. She disputed this, in interviews with the Post-Tribune. On the way to booking, Randolph tells Hamady the truancy case in Merrillville Town Court was for taking her daughter repeatedly to school a little late when she was in pain from just having another baby, according to footage recorded inside Hamady's police car. He appears to soften. 'I didn't know they had warrants for that,' he said in the footage. In an interview, Matthew Custardo, Randolph's lawyer in the federal lawsuit, argued the use of force was unjustified, even if she was arguing with the cops. 'She was confused why she was being pulled over,' he said. 'She's scared. She has every reason to be a little concerned about what's going on. She's standing up for herself, certainly.' According to the nearly 40-minute bodycam video, police officers tell her to call someone to pick up the kids, so they don't have to call child protective services. Originally, Randolph said she thought it might have been a warrant for an old driving while suspended case. 'Call CPS for what?' she responds in the video. 'A warrant for a suspended license?' 'It's not for that,' Hamady tells her in the footage. After she asks again, he says it's for truancy. 'Listen, you have a warrant,' Hamady said in the video. 'You're lucky I don't have you cuffed out of the car right now. You wanna go that route?' In the video, she accuses Hamady of pulling out of a nearby parking lot before she passed him. 'Ma'am, I was behind you,' he responded in the footage. At least three other officers are in view. 'I'm taking you to court,' she the phone, Randolph tells her mother the '(expletive) police' pulled her over as she asked her to get her kids, according to the video. She asks officers to wait until her mother arrives. 'I guess they are going to take me to jail,' she said over the phone in the footage. Randolph said in a previous interview with the Post-Tribune that the encounter appeared to escalate when she rolled up her window slightly to hear what her mom was saying. The arrest happens within about 12 minutes into the footage. As officers open her car door and grab her arm, Randolph's children can be heard crying in the back seat. 'This is your last warning,' one of the officers said in the video. 'We don't want your kids to see this.' 'You already freaked my kids out,' she said. 'Get out of the (expletive) car,' one officer stated in the footage. I'm '(expletive) pregnant,' she yells just before two officers pull her from the vehicle after she tried to cling to the steering wheel in the video. 'Let me go! Get off of me! Please get off of me! Somebody help me!' After she is handcuffed on the ground, a police dog is seen in the background of the dashboard camera footage. Randolph's white shoes are scattered nearby. 'I'm trying to help you out here,' one officer tells her in the video. Randolph was charged with resisting law enforcement two months later. Hamady's account in court documents makes no mention of her pregnancy. During the ride to booking at the Lake County Jail, they talk at length about her decision to have a fifth child, according to footage inside the police car. Her fiancé wanted one last child, she said. When Hamady asks how far along she is on the video, she responds she's nearly 12 weeks pregnant. 'Well, congrats to you,' he said in the video. Hamady stated in the footage that her bond should be $400. It's 'not Friday, so it's a good thing,' he tells her in the video. 'I'll make sure they keep you updated.' He asks if she's comfortable as late-'90s era music plays over the radio, the footage shows, before they chat about where she is planning to get married. Do you 'want the window open back there, or are you good?' he asks in the video. Since police insisted on towing her red Chevrolet Trailblazer, Randolph's mother had to take four kids back in a cramped sedan, a situation that was not likely 'legally safe,' Custardo said. Randolph's lawsuit alleged her arrest suggested a 'broader pattern' in the Lake County Sheriff's Department, including 'inadequate training,' 'insufficient supervision' and a 'failure to implement effective accountability measures,' according to court documents. The Lake County Sheriff's Department refused to answer questions related to the incident, including what kind of de-escalation training its officers receive at various stages in their careers. Hamady joined the department in 2022, according to court filings. Sheriff Oscar Martinez Jr. declined comment through a spokeswoman, who said he could not discuss pending litigation. Watching the video with her mother was 'very emotional,' Randolph said in an Aug. 5 interview, especially hearing her kids crying in the video's background. She refused to let her 12-year-old daughter view it. 'I feel better now that I've seen it,' Randolph said. 'It matches the exact story I've been telling for so long.' There's been some 'expected' backlash online after a pair of articles in local newspapers, Randolph said. She was there trying to protect herself and her Williams, her criminal public defender, said she did remember parts of the case in retrospect, and confirmed she tried to get the bodycam from the Lake County Sheriff's Department 'multiple times' since the case was filed in August 2023. Court filings show one discovery request for the body cam was made as late as October 2024. The only reason not to turn it over was if they 'didn't want me to see something,' she said. Randolph was tired of repeatedly coming to court for a slow-moving case, Williams said. She told her client that she could fight to get the bodycam footage, or take a pretrial diversion to get rid of the case in a year. 'It's common to get slow discovery (evidence) when you're requesting bodycams,' Williams said, adding that some police departments are worse than others, but she's had 'good experience' with the sheriff's department in the past. Randolph's case is scheduled for a pretrial diversion hearing on Aug. 15. However, an automatic court filing on Aug. 11 appears to show there may be a snag. Court filings show Randolph, her fiancé and sister were charged June 26 with resisting law enforcement in Hobart. Hobart Police Cpl. Christopher Sipes wrote that Randolph and her fiancé got his attention around 1:30 a.m. May 25 on Main Street for ignoring a 'pedestrian signal.' , Randolph said they were out that night celebrating her fiancé's birthday. As End Zone let out across the street, a crowd, including the half-dozen in her group, were migrating to the other bar, Randolph said. At least two officers were there, as someone behind them yelled something about the guy handcuffed on the ground getting arrested nearby. The officer thought her fiancé said something, she said. Sipes wrote he and the other officer followed them into Cagney's. 'Bulls jersey, stop right there,' the other officer said to Randolph's fiancé, according to court records. As they got to the bar, Randolph said an officer grabbed her arm from behind. According to court documents, when the officer asked for identification, the couple 'ignored' him and said they 'didn't do anything.' Randolph 'stepped in front' of officers to block them from her fiance. As the cops went to arrest them just inside the bar's entrance, the crowd 'became aggressive,' the officer wrote. During a 'struggle' as she was being handcuffed, Randolph's black strapless top fell down, exposing her breasts, records state. Randolph said in an interview she tried to turn away for some privacy, because there were a 'million people standing around.' Once she stood up, an officer wrote, he pulled her top back up, records state. She denied she got in their way or refused to give her identification card. The officer was bigger than her, and it didn't make sense that she could overpower him. The whole incident was 'very unfortunate,' her lawyer Patrick Young said Aug. 7, adding he's working with prosecutors to resolve the case.
Zawya
19-03-2025
- Business
- Zawya
INTERVIEW: AI's transformative role in the GCC economy
Over the next 5–10 years, Artificial Intelligence (AI) will create significant economic opportunities across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states, particularly in key sectors such as energy, smart cities, logistics, and healthcare, according to Faisal Hamady, Managing Director and Partner, BCG. He told Zawya Projects that the GCC's access to vast proprietary datasets in oil and gas, mobility, and healthcare will serve as a key differentiator, enabling the development of highly specialised AI models that drive efficiency, innovation, and competitive advantage. ' As AI adoption continues to expand, these sectors will drive economic growth, strengthen global competitiveness, and position the GCC as a key player in AI-led innovation,' he noted. In terms of AI's sectoral impact, in energy and smart grids, AI-powered solutions will enhance efficiency, predictive maintenance, and grid optimisation, supporting the region's transition to renewable energy and improved operational performance, according to Hamady. 'With a strong focus on sustainability, AI will help manage energy distribution, reduce waste, and improve grid resilience,' he said. He pointed out that AI-driven smart city initiatives are already underway, with the UAE leading efforts in AI-powered traffic management, digital identity systems, and urban planning. 'These advancements will improve urban infrastructure, enhance public services, and set global benchmarks for AI governance,' he explained. The BCG executive underlined that AI will also will reshape logistics and transport, which is a key focus area for Gulf countries in their economic diversification agenda. 'Predictive analytics, AI-driven fleet management, and autonomous transport solutions will streamline supply chains, reduce costs, and improve efficiency,' said Hamady. In healthcare, he continued, AI will play a growing role in medical diagnostics, genomics, and personalised medicine, enabling faster and more accurate treatments. 'AI-driven healthcare solutions will contribute to the region's ambition of becoming a leader in medical tourism and advanced healthcare services,' he stated. Excerpts from the interview How do you compare the GCC's AI advancements with global leaders like the US, China, and the EU? The GCC, particularly the UAE and Saudi Arabia, has made significant strides in AI development, emerging a global AI contender, just behind AI pioneers such as the US, China, and the EU. While the US leads in AI innovation through investment, research, and commercialisation, and China is rapidly scaling AI development with government-led initiatives, the GCC is catching up through strategic investments, national AI policies, and a focus on key economic sectors. AI Readiness & Investment: The UAE and Saudi Arabia have high AI readiness, leveraging government-backed strategies, foreign direct investment (FDI), and robust data ecosystems to advance AI adoption. Economic Prioritisation: AI pioneers like the US dominate global AI with homegrown startups, major tech firms, and strong academic research. The GCC, particularly the UAE, is creating AI-friendly regulatory frameworks, establishing AI-focused research centres, and attracting global AI companies. Infrastructure & Talent Development: AI pioneers invest in large-scale computational infrastructure (such as AI supercomputers). The UAE is competing by establishing AI research hubs, attracting global AI talent, and building AI-friendly infrastructure. Sector-Specific AI Deployment: Unlike the US and China, which focus on broad AI applications, the GCC is targeting specific sectors like energy, logistics, and government services, where AI has the potential to generate significant economic output. What are the lessons that China's DeepSeek holds for the region, and especially UAE and Saudi Arabia? DeepSeek R1, China's open-weight AI model, provides valuable insights for the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar as they continue to develop their AI ecosystems. One of the key lessons is cost-efficient AI development— DeepSeek R1 was trained at a relatively low cost, proving that effective AI models do not necessarily require multi-billion-dollar investments. This presents an opportunity for GCC nations to optimise AI training expenditures while focusing on localised AI applications that cater to their economic and societal needs. Additionally, DeepSeek R1 highlights the importance of AI localisation and sovereignty, emphasising the need for homegrown AI models that ensure data security and independence. The UAE and Saudi Arabia have already made strides in this area, with initiatives aimed at developing Arabic-language AI models and region-specific applications. Similarly, Qatar's AI market is witnessing a surge in investments and regulatory alignment with the US and EU to enhance AI deployment across various sectors, including smart cities and digital transformation efforts. Another crucial takeaway from DeepSeek R1 is the emphasis on AI talent and research collaboration between academia and industry. The UAE's Key Thinkers Program and Saudi Arabia's AI research initiatives are well-positioned to follow this model, fostering a strong AI talent pipeline. Qatar, meanwhile, has integrated AI into its Third National Development Strategy (NDS-3), positioning itself as a global AI hub through economic diversification and digital transformation efforts. The open-weight nature of DeepSeek R1 has also demonstrated how making AI models more accessible can drive economic growth and technological adoption. GCC countries could benefit from adopting similar strategies, particularly in government AI applications, smart infrastructure, and financial services. As AI continues to evolve, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar have the opportunity to leverage cost-effective, localised, and research-driven AI models to enhance economic competitiveness and technological leadership in the region. What factors are attracting global AI and tech professionals to the region? How can governments and businesses here retain top AI talent? The UAE and Saudi Arabia are emerging as global AI talent hubs, attracting top professionals through a combination of financial incentives, strategic government initiatives, and business-friendly policies. Competitive salaries, tax-free income, and a lower cost of living compared to major tech hubs in the US and Europe make the region particularly attractive for AI professionals. Additionally, national AI strategies, such as the UAE's AI and Blockchain Council and Saudi Arabia's National AI Strategy, provide a stable and well-supported environment for AI research and development. These initiatives are complemented by significant investments in AI education and upskilling programs, including AI PhD scholarships and professional certifications, ensuring a steady pipeline of skilled talent. Moreover, AI-friendly business regulations, such as 100 percent foreign ownership in AI startups, relaxed visa policies, and accelerator programs, further position the UAE as a preferred destination for AI professionals looking to establish and scale their work. To retain top AI talent, governments and businesses in the region must focus on strengthening AI research and development infrastructure. Establishing dedicated AI research hubs and test beds will provide professionals with access to advanced technology and foster innovation. Additionally, forming cross-border AI partnerships with global pioneers will keep talent engaged in high-impact AI projects while promoting knowledge exchange. Furthermore, adapting to the evolving work preferences of AI professionals by supporting remote-friendly policies and flexible work models will enhance retention efforts. By creating an ecosystem that combines financial incentives, cutting-edge research opportunities, and a supportive regulatory environment, the UAE and Saudi Arabia can position themselves as long-term destinations for the world's top AI talent. Do you think global AI regulations are aligning or becoming fragmented? How does this impact AI deployment? Also, how does it affect businesses operating across borders? Global AI regulations are becoming increasingly fragmented, with major economies adopting distinct governance models. The EU's AI Act is taking a highly regulated approach, emphasising transparency, bias mitigation, and strict liability requirements. In contrast, the US follows a more market-driven model, focusing on AI innovation with ethical guidelines rather than rigid legal frameworks. Meanwhile, China integrates AI governance within state policies, prioritising AI-powered economic growth while maintaining strong government oversight. This divergence in regulatory approaches creates complexities for businesses and governments looking to establish consistent AI deployment strategies. For companies operating across borders, regulatory fragmentation presents several challenges. Businesses must navigate varying AI compliance requirements, leading to increased operational complexity and higher costs. AI models may also require localisation to align with different regional policies, further driving up development expenses. However, this regulatory landscape also presents opportunities for regions like the GCC to position themselves as leaders in AI governance. By fostering intergovernmental AI discussions and global AI ethics panels, countries such as the UAE are aiming to bridge regulatory gaps and establish a balanced framework that supports innovation while addressing key governance concerns. As AI regulations continue to evolve, businesses will need to stay agile, ensuring compliance while capitalising on emerging opportunities in AI-friendly markets. (Reporting by Anoop Menon; Editing by SA Kader) (
