Thread: Dallas officer delayed NFL player as relative died

Dallas officer delayed NFL player as relative died

By SCHUYLER DIXON –
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/art ... gD975VHJ81

DALLAS (AP) — A police officer was placed on administrative leave Thursday over a traffic stop involving an NFL player whom he kept in a hospital parking lot and threatened to arrest while his mother-in-law died inside the building.

Officer Robert Powell also drew his gun during the March 18 incident involving Houston Texans running back Ryan Moats in the Dallas suburb of Plano, police said.

"I can screw you over," he said at one point in the videotaped incident. When another officer came with word that Moats' mother-in-law was indeed dying, Powell's response was: "All right. I'm almost done."

Dallas Police Chief David Kunkle apologized to the family and announced that Powell would be on paid leave pending an internal investigation.

"When we at the command staff reviewed the tape, we were embarrassed, disappointed," Kunkle said. "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."

Powell, 25, a three-year member of the force, stopped Moats' SUV outside Baylor Regional Medical Center at Plano after Moats rolled through a red light.

Police officials said Powell told his commanders he believed he was doing his job, and that he drew his gun but did not point it. Kunkle said Powell was not necessarily acting improperly when he pulled his weapon out, but that once he realized what was happening should have put the gun back, apologized and offered to help the family in any way.

"His behavior, in my opinion, did not exhibit the common sense, the discretion, the compassion that we expect our officers to exhibit," Kunkle said.

Moats' wife, who was in the car along with other relatives, said Powell pointed his weapon at her.

"He was pointing a gun at me as soon as I got out of the car," Tamishia Moats told The Dallas Morning News.

The Moats family did not immediately return messages left by The Associated Press. Powell did not respond to requests for comment through the Dallas police union.

Video from a dashboard camera inside the officer's vehicle, obtained by Dallas-Fort Worth station WFAA-TV, revealed an intense exchange in which the officer threatened to jail Moats.

He ordered Tamishia Moats, 27, to get back in the SUV, but after pausing for a few seconds, she and another woman rushed into the hospital. She was by the side of her mother, 45-year-old Jonetta Collinsworth, when she died a short time later from breast cancer.

"Get in there," said Powell, yelling at Tamishia Moats as she exited the vehicle. "Let me see your hands!"

"Excuse me, my mom is dying," Tamishia Moats said. "Do you understand?"

Ryan Moats explained that he waited until there was no traffic before proceeding through the red light. When Powell asked for proof of insurance, Moats grew more agitated and told the officer to go find it.

"My mother-in-law is dying! Right now! You're wasting my time!" Moats yelled. "I don't understand why you can't understand that."

As they argued, the officer got irritated.

"Shut your mouth," the officer said. "You can either settle down and cooperate or I can just take you to jail for running a red light."

By the time the 26-year-old NFL player received a ticket and a lecture from Powell, about 13 minutes had passed. When he and Collinsworth's father entered the hospital, they learned Collinsworth was dead.

Kunkle said the video showed that Moats and his wife "exercised extraordinary patience, restraint in dealing with the behavior of our officer."

"At no time did Mr. Moats identify himself as an NFL football player or expect any kind of special consideration," Kunkle said. "He handled himself very, very well."

The Moats family, who are black, said they can't help but think that race might have played a part in the white officer's behavior.

"I think he should lose his job," Ryan Moats said.

When the exchange was at its most contentious, Powell said he could tow Moats' SUV if he didn't have insurance and that he could arrest him for fleeing because he didn't immediately stop when Powell turned on his sirens. The pursuit lasted a little more than a minute.

"I can screw you over," Powell said. "I'd rather not do that. Your attitude will dictate everything that happens."

The ticket issued to Moats was dismissed, Dallas police spokesman Lt. Andy Harvey said.

Texans spokesman Kevin Cooper said the team had no comment.

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 scored 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.

Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

This is so sad.
But are the police this strict on the illegals driving down the road without insurances or licenses and/or legal status to be in the country?

Some have actually come out in defense of the officer. I don't see how anyone can view the tape and not come away with a definite feeling of how wrong he was. Of course someone running a red light is a reason to make a stop, but after first seeing the hazard flashers on, and then chasing them to the hospital emergency room, having multiple staff and another officer come out to say the mom-in-law indeed had moments to live, the officer still issued the ticket, along with a lecture.
I have to say I have been impressed by the police chief since he stepped on the scene here. Days after becoming chief, he actually chased down a woman who had stolen a truck. Can you imagine what the dispatcher must've been thinking when she heard the words "..this is unit number ONE..."? LOL
I don't see how he can expect to keep wearing a badge with an attitude like his...

This is the attitude of police in many locations against the citizens. Pull the gun in the Hospital Parking Lot, and ignore the facts.

I'm not defeneding the officer, but can you imagine all the "excuses" he's likely heard in the past? That said, he needed to handle this more like the profressional he's supposed to be.

Originally Posted by SicNTiredInSoCal

I'm not defeneding the officer, but can you imagine all the "excuses" he's likely heard in the past? That said, he needed to handle this more like the profressional he's supposed to be.

That was exactly my argument! How many times has a police officer turned on his lights to pull someone over, only for them to hall ass to the hospital to make it seem like that they had a medical emergency. Remember, EVERY trick in the book has been used. This police officer was just doing his job, but it just so happens that the 1 time out of 100 that the perp was telling the truth.

It can go both ways, but this time it went against the policeman.