Pregnant woman goes into labor during arrest

A woman claims her water broke inside the Meijer store on East Washington Street, just as she was being arrested for shoplifting.

The woman, identified as 18-year-old Silvia Mendez-Perez was being detained along with a 18-year-old man identified as Armando Cuatlacuatl-Cruz. Police said the two tried to leave the store without paying for merchandise.

Both the man and woman only had Mexican Consulate identification. A store employee who spoke spanish told police the woman was in labor.

She was taken to Wishard Hospital. Police have requested a warrant for her arrest once she gets out of the hospital.


Police the couple arrived at Meijer in a 1998 Chevy pickup that was not registered to either one of them, nor did either have a valid driver's license.