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Oklahoma Highway Trooper faulted for ambulance incident and fight
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by Amy Judd | May 29, 2009 at 07:47 am
7330 views | 25 Recommendations | 21 comments
Update: June 16th 2009
Maurice White Jr., the ambulance driver who confronted an Oklahoma Highway Trooper for stopping his ambulance on the way to the hospital had this to say on the The Early Show this morning.
White appeared with his attorney, Richard O’Carroll, on The Early Show Tuesday from Gore, Okla., to discuss the roadside incident.
White told Early Show co-anchor Maggie Rodriguez he got involved because the driver had an "emergency."
"But once confronted with the situation," White said, "there was no way with the patient and the unit, could I allow my driver to spend 20 minutes with the trooper discussing a possible ticket."
White told Rodriguez Martin was in "a state of rage from the beginning."
"And even after being informed that we had a patient," White said, "there was total disregard. So he started in a state of rage and simply escalated from that point."
The attorney for one of the troopers said that his client did not know or it didn't register that there was a patient in the back of the ambulance until the situation had already intensified.
Both parties are waiting on the ruling before seeing if they should take further action.
Previous story:
Two Oklahoma Highway Patrol Officers stopped an abulance traveling on a higway near Boley in Okfuskee County, and as the ambulance was on an emergency call, it did not yield to the troopers, who then became angry and had a fight with the EMT of the ambulance.
Videos
The incident was caught on video.
The troopers claim that the paramedic actually assaulted one of them before the camera caught the incident. In the video you can see the troopers pushing the paramedic and grabbing his neck.
The video was shot by the patient's son. He says he continually asked the troopers to stop, so his mom could be taken to the hospital.
"We're like telling this dude. Man, my mom is in the back. My step-dad was like man my wife is in the back, can we do this at the hospital?" said Kenyada Davis.
The patient was finally taken to hospital and treated, but the Oklahoma Highway Patrol will not comment on the video at this time; it is being reviewed by Okfuskee County prosecutors.
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Amy Judd
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at 15:08 on May 29th, 2009
Thanks for this, Amy!
at 23:03 on July 10th, 2009
I rarely comment on things of this nature, but a situation as this seems fairly typical with todays police officers. I have no criminal record of any kind yet have found this type behavior to be typical in many cases I have personally witnessed between police officers and the people they encounter. Too often, officers are too headstrong and too pre-occupied with commanding a situation, that they fail to see and hear what is going on around them.
I am not concerned with what the cell cam video shows, but moreso with what the officer's own dashcam shows. If one observes the dashcam video, the first point to notice is when the cruiser approaches from the rear of the ambulance on the highway while he is running hot to provide back-up to another officer on a call. The ambulance is following another car, and while the ambulance does not immediately pull over and yield, he did so after a mere 6 seconds which was the time he needed to safely do so. He had to watch the car in front of him as it too was trying to yield to the sirens.
All should have been over at that point, but no. The officer has to switch bands on his radio and, over the radio, critisize the ambulance driver for making what normally would have been percieved as a safe yield to the police cruiser. The officer then goes on to the scene in which he was summond supposedly a few miles further down the road.
OK......so beyond that.......all should be over.....but that is STILL not good enough for the OHP officer. Once the officer is on the scene of his call, the same ambulance eventually passes the officer again. After realizing that his assistance is no longer required at his original call, he then takes it upon himself to chase after the ambulance, pull the ambulance over and escalate the situation further.
This is what I believe was completely un-called for. The officer overstepped his bounds simply because he wears a gun and badge and feels he himself is above the law. He jumped into his squad car, re-employed his lights and siren, sped through traffic to catch up to another emergency vehicle and pull it over........only for the reason of giving the ambulance driver grief for doing his job as well.
I realize I account for only one of many opinions on this, but common sense tells me that it was the officer that escalated this situation out of hand just because he was obsessed with demonstrating the he himself has supreme control over the roads and how people drive them.
One other point I would like to make is that it was mentioned that during this whole incident, the officer's wife was in the passenger seat of the patrol car. My question to this little detail is why ? What was she doing in his patrol car if he is on duty and running hot to back-up other officers in perilous situations ? Is that not bad judgement in itsself to have a civilian in the cruiser when he could be called into a volitile situation at any time ?
I'm sorry if I offend anyone with my opinion, but in my opinion, this cop was wrong all the way around. He was no different than the officer in Dallas that pulled the NFL star over for rushing to his dying mother-in-laws side and refused to let him go when it was obvious the man had an emergent situation.
Because he is a cop, he should know better and be able to work with the public he serves better. If a cop cannot keep his own emotions in check and remember that he is, above all, a public servant, maybe he should pursue a different career.
Kevin McNairy - Texas
at 17:30 on May 29th, 2009
I can't believe those troopers didn't bother to check the ambulance ...
at 10:40 on May 31st, 2009
They should not have stopped the emt vehicle in the first place. It shows you that cops are full of themselves and need to be put in their place. they are getting out of hand.
at 15:43 on May 31st, 2009
I have never thought OK Highway patrol officers were very bright! This proves that. The troopers should have followed or escorted the ambulance to the hospital and then if they wanted to harass the EMT's , they could have done it after transporting the poor patient. Is chocking people OK in OK? Both of those guys should be fired, now! What Sh*#!.
at 09:13 on June 2nd, 2009
This is typical for the OHP, they are known for their unnecessary use of force mainly with tasers. Im really surprised that they did just start tasing the EMT's and the patient for no reason.
at 06:42 on June 3rd, 2009
My question is this. If the cops were enroute to a call that required the EMT's to yeild to them, why did they stop the EMT's and make a big deal of it. It seems logical to ma that they praceed to the call they were on.
at 13:59 on June 3rd, 2009
I just sent an email that sums up my comments, see below;
To whom it may concern, I decided to write you about the video taped incident that I saw regarding an EMT being stopped by an OHP officer(s). My first reaction was to call on the telephone, but I felt I could be more civil about this in writing. I do intend to state my feelings in a civil and calm manner. I know there are great officers out there, I have know a few. That being said, too few. The behavior of the officers in that video is completely, 100% unacceptable. No caveats, it borders upon the sociopathic. For the sake of all good men and women who serve I urge you to take sure and swift disciplinary action against them. And by that I do not mean a slap upon the wrist. I mean fired with no recompense. Permanently and irrevocably dismissed never to have the ability to serve in any capacity of authority ever again. I urge you to do this so that the respect and good names of all honest officers everywhere can be upheld. We (myself and just about every hard working citizen I personally know) are loosing faith in the system at every level. How much longer can this go on? I urge you by all that is right to help restore, or at least forestall this sinking feeling we as citizens are having. Thanks for your time, Charlie Evansonat 01:25 on June 14th, 2009
The cop(s) involve should be kicked off the forece and maybe get some training in identifiying fellow emergency services workers; what could have cuased their confusion? Could the colour of the drivers skin have been an issue - hell yes. Does the video paint all OKHP as card carrying Nazi - hell yes. Our Indegenous brothers and sisters in Australia are still putting up with this crap and they sorrow we feel for them is the same we feel for the African Ameerican ambulance driver. With any luck they will get called out to help this guy in a car accident and just drive away... I would. Ed.
at 19:59 on June 14th, 2009
typical encounter with the OHP,hope that cop dont need an ambulance any time soon,...the paramedic should have kicked both of them cops asses,.....administrative leave???,...this guy should have been fired on the spot,....hope they slipped him some prozac before they put him back in a patrol car
at 14:03 on June 15th, 2009
Others have more eloquently stated the outrage that I feel regarding the conduct of these two troopers. I sincerely hope that the media does follow up with this story.
The troopers failed to show any sense at all. If they thought the driver disrespected them, they should have known enough to let the ambulance proceed to the hospital and after the patient was taken care of, then confronted the ambulance crew.
I sincerely hope that the ambulance company, the patient and any other relevant party sue the State of OK and these two numbskulls (in their personal capacities). I sincerely feel that any good lawyer should be able to win the case and thereby seize the troopers personal assets including their cars, houses and pensions.
at 14:13 on June 15th, 2009
From another site, I got the below:
"But the paramedic reminded him that it was a felony to assault a paramedic in the line of duty, especially when he needs to transport a patient to the hospital."
The two troopers actually assaulted the EMTs. If the above is true, they have to be arrested and put on trial. It is inconceivable how these two will not be arrested. If it is a felony, these two troopers need to do some jail time.
at 14:44 on June 15th, 2009
Hey , Did you know that research shows that there is a larger than normal percentage of psychopaths and other personality disorders in the following groups : inmates , Cops , soldiers , CEO and politicians ...
These cops are fascists and need to be removed , and/or sued to death .
Wonder why this world is the stink of the universe ? Many people in power and authority cannot be trusted .Either the job changes them or they were always disturbed but kept it hidden well.
at 15:09 on June 15th, 2009
Well heck, why didn't they just arrest the patient in the ambulance as well for being loud and disorderly and not being respectful to the officers. They should have just tazed the lot! I am kidding. They officers actions were negligent! They didn't even check or inquire on if they lady was in critical condition. They only cared about themselves. Serving themselves only. Whatever happened to serving the public? They should have escorted the ambulance to the hospital and discussed what the issues were with the driver at the hospital. God forbid that I would need immediate care in the state of Oklahoma. 1st, show respect for the cops and then you can get treatment.
at 16:52 on June 15th, 2009
This is exactly why the public has lost so much respect for the cops. They have a god complex. They always think they are above the laws that others have to follow. Didn't yield to him? Who does he think he is? Oh yea, forgot, thinks he's a god. Don't know how many times I see cops not following the traffic laws everyone else gets pulled over for, but when you call them on the carpet for it..they're "on duty". Once again the "god complex" - they're above the laws everyone else has to follow. The public needs to have more control over these types of things but when you raise a LEGITIMATE complaint, you're harassed incessantly or your legitimate complaints about people breaking the law are ignored. I know - I complained about harassment from an officer and when I was assaulted I was ignored. Just goes to show you they're actually NOT out to serve the public - only their own inflated egos.
at 18:39 on June 15th, 2009
Ed, the driver was a white man.
at 19:41 on June 15th, 2009
You can tell the education difference between the cop and the paramedic. Officer 12wks training, paramedic 2yrs...... IT SHOWS.
at 20:18 on June 15th, 2009
What a sorry excuse for a police officer. If he is not fired, he should be. Too many of these type officers give the good ones a bad name....don't you just love a hot headed, better than anyone else in the world, arrogant officer. I had one stop me one time and I told him exactly what I thought about him and his attitude..then I called in on him and he was fired about two months later. I hope he as well as this officer never works in public service ever again!
at 15:52 on June 16th, 2009
I am one of the many who are upset with the officers who stopped the ambulance rushing to the hospital. There is no question but that they should be fired. We have allowed are police to become too popwerful. We are becoming a police state.
at 23:50 on June 16th, 2009
Wow, this is a shocking video, and someone could have actually died because of the officers actions. In my opinion, in a follow up interview the officer who assaulted the paramedic does not seemed to grasp that he did anything wrong. A complete investigation should be conducted and appropriate punishment should be applied in this situation. Since I realize that could have been me, a friend, or family member being transported and the delay could have caused a grave result, I find this incident very troubling.
at 11:03 on July 23rd, 2009
This is too much.....The OHP should fire this officer and prosicute him just like they would anyone else who stoped an abulance and assaulted the crew. Hope you enjoy our comunity OHP because you will need us soon and we wont be there for you because of your actions.