Cop stops NFL Player as relative is dying
Posted: March 26, 2009 10:06 pm
http://www.khou.com/topstories/stories/ ... 8d86d.html
Cop who stopped Texans player as he rushed to be with dying relative put on leave
Dallas police chief calls incident 'embarrassing'
05:53 PM CDT on Thursday, March 26, 2009
By Jeff McShan & Ron Trevino / 11 News
PLANO, Texas – A Dallas police officer is under investigation after pulling over Houston Texans running back Ryan Moats as he and his wife were trying to rush to the bedside of a dying relative.
Video
Houston Texan pulled over while rushing to the bedside of a dying relative
March 25, 2009
Dash cam: Cop stops Texans player View larger E-mail Clip More Video Moats said he was in a hurry to get to Baylor Hospital in Plano after nurses informed him that his wife’s mother was dying.
In his haste, Moats said that as he got close to the hospital, he turned on his emergency flashers and ran a red light. Dallas Officer Robert Powell followed them and pulled the couple’s car over as they pulled into the hospital parking lot.
In a news conference Thursday, Dallas Police Chief David Kunkle said he'd placed Powell on paid leave pending the outcome of the investigation. Kunkle admitted Thursday that the officer mishandled the situation.
“When we at the command staff reviewed the tape, we were embarrassed, disappointed. It’s hard to find the right word and still be professional in my role as the police chief. But the behavior was not appropriate," Kunkle said. "At the point the officer was told that they were responding to a dying family member, that should have been his concern -- to help those people get access to that family member."
On the police video, the officer is heard telling the two of them to get out and put their hands on the car.
Moat's wife ignored Officer Robert Powell's commands and rushed to see her dying mother. But Moats was detained.
“I've got seconds before she is gone,” said Moats, as he tried to explain the urgency of the situation to the officer.
To make matters worse, in the confusion, Moats couldn’t find his proof of insurance card.
“My mother-in-law is dying,” said Moats , while desperately trying to leave the officer and be at his wife’s side.
But the officer was not about to let the Houston Texans running back go.
“If you can’t verify you have insurance, I'm going to tow your car. So you either find it or I tow your car,” Officer Powell said. " I can screw you over. I’d rather not do that. Your attitude will dictate everything that happens.”
The police video continued to record the scene as the two men argued, but then the officer became irate.
“Shut your mouth. You can either settle down and cooperate, or I can take you to jail for running a red light,” the officer said.
Over the phone, Moats told 11 News that he couldn't believe how he was treated.
“For him to not be sympathetic and basically treat us like dogs, it shocked me,” Moats said.
Not once, but twice during the incident, nurses tried to convince the officer to let Moats go and be with dying his mother-in-law. Even a Plano police officer stopped to help make a plea.
The Dallas officer eventually decided to ticket Moats for running the light, but the argument wasted 20 precious minutes. By the time Moats was released, his wife’s mother had died.
“I went up after she passed and held her hand, but she was already gone,” Moats said.
She was buried in Louisiana on Saturday.
Dallas police have apologized to Moats and his family. They launched an investigation and have dropped the ticket.
Kunkle said it was a matter of common sense and compassion.
Kunkle said Powell still believes he did nothing wrong and was just doing his job.
Moats, a third-round draft choice of the Philadelphia Eagles in 2005 out of Louisiana Tech, was cut by the Eagles in August and later signed with the Texans. In three seasons as a backup, he’s rushed for 441 yards and scoured four touchdowns.
He was a standout at Bishop Lynch High School, a private school in Dallas, rushing for more than 2,600 yards and 33 touchdowns as a senior.
DASH Cam video of the incident here.
http://www.wfaa.com/video/featured-inde ... 6&noad=yes
Cop who stopped Texans player as he rushed to be with dying relative put on leave
Dallas police chief calls incident 'embarrassing'
05:53 PM CDT on Thursday, March 26, 2009
By Jeff McShan & Ron Trevino / 11 News
PLANO, Texas – A Dallas police officer is under investigation after pulling over Houston Texans running back Ryan Moats as he and his wife were trying to rush to the bedside of a dying relative.
Video
Houston Texan pulled over while rushing to the bedside of a dying relative
March 25, 2009
Dash cam: Cop stops Texans player View larger E-mail Clip More Video Moats said he was in a hurry to get to Baylor Hospital in Plano after nurses informed him that his wife’s mother was dying.
In his haste, Moats said that as he got close to the hospital, he turned on his emergency flashers and ran a red light. Dallas Officer Robert Powell followed them and pulled the couple’s car over as they pulled into the hospital parking lot.
In a news conference Thursday, Dallas Police Chief David Kunkle said he'd placed Powell on paid leave pending the outcome of the investigation. Kunkle admitted Thursday that the officer mishandled the situation.
“When we at the command staff reviewed the tape, we were embarrassed, disappointed. It’s hard to find the right word and still be professional in my role as the police chief. But the behavior was not appropriate," Kunkle said. "At the point the officer was told that they were responding to a dying family member, that should have been his concern -- to help those people get access to that family member."
On the police video, the officer is heard telling the two of them to get out and put their hands on the car.
Moat's wife ignored Officer Robert Powell's commands and rushed to see her dying mother. But Moats was detained.
“I've got seconds before she is gone,” said Moats, as he tried to explain the urgency of the situation to the officer.
To make matters worse, in the confusion, Moats couldn’t find his proof of insurance card.
“My mother-in-law is dying,” said Moats , while desperately trying to leave the officer and be at his wife’s side.
But the officer was not about to let the Houston Texans running back go.
“If you can’t verify you have insurance, I'm going to tow your car. So you either find it or I tow your car,” Officer Powell said. " I can screw you over. I’d rather not do that. Your attitude will dictate everything that happens.”
The police video continued to record the scene as the two men argued, but then the officer became irate.
“Shut your mouth. You can either settle down and cooperate, or I can take you to jail for running a red light,” the officer said.
Over the phone, Moats told 11 News that he couldn't believe how he was treated.
“For him to not be sympathetic and basically treat us like dogs, it shocked me,” Moats said.
Not once, but twice during the incident, nurses tried to convince the officer to let Moats go and be with dying his mother-in-law. Even a Plano police officer stopped to help make a plea.
The Dallas officer eventually decided to ticket Moats for running the light, but the argument wasted 20 precious minutes. By the time Moats was released, his wife’s mother had died.
“I went up after she passed and held her hand, but she was already gone,” Moats said.
She was buried in Louisiana on Saturday.
Dallas police have apologized to Moats and his family. They launched an investigation and have dropped the ticket.
Kunkle said it was a matter of common sense and compassion.
Kunkle said Powell still believes he did nothing wrong and was just doing his job.
Moats, a third-round draft choice of the Philadelphia Eagles in 2005 out of Louisiana Tech, was cut by the Eagles in August and later signed with the Texans. In three seasons as a backup, he’s rushed for 441 yards and scoured four touchdowns.
He was a standout at Bishop Lynch High School, a private school in Dallas, rushing for more than 2,600 yards and 33 touchdowns as a senior.
DASH Cam video of the incident here.
http://www.wfaa.com/video/featured-inde ... 6&noad=yes
