Outrage after cop keeps man from dying relative

[mamacags]

DALLAS — Racing to see his dying mother-in-law at a Plano hospital, an NFL player found himself delayed by a Dallas officer as her life ebbed away. It's a story that has sparked outrage across North Texas and generated interest around the country.

With his wife and another woman in the car, Ryan Moats — a running back for the Houston Texans — sped his car toward Baylor Regional Medical Center of Plano in the early morning hours of March 17. But when the Moats arrived at emergency room parking lot, they were stopped by Officer Robert Powell, who drew his service revolver on the concerned family members.

Dashcam video from the Dallas officer's patrol car captured the incident.

"Get in there," Officer Powell yelled out to Tamishia Moats, Ryan's wife, as she exited the car. "Let me see your hands. Get in there. Put your hands on the car."

"Excuse me; my mom is dying," Tamisha Moats replied.

She and the other woman ignored Officer Powell's commands and rushed inside the hospital to her dying mother as Ryan Moats and Officer Powell went back-and-forth over insurance paperwork the NFL player was unable to locate.

MOATS: "I've got seconds before she's gone, man."

POWELL: "Listen: If I can't verify you have insurance..."

MOATS: "My mother-in-law is dying!"

POWELL: "Listen to me."

MOATS: "Right now, you're wasting my time."

POWELL: "If you can't verify you have insurance, I'm going to tow your car. So, you either find it or I am going to tow the car."

As they argued, the officer got irritated.

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

 
Dallas PD
The tape shows a nurse coming out of the hospital, pleading with Officer Powell to let Moats join his wife and her dying mother inside.. In a telephone interview, Moats said the clash with the officer was totally unexpected. "For him to not even be sympathetic at all, and basically we're dogs or something and we don't matter — it basically shocked me," he said. (more at link)
http://www.wfaa.com/sharedcontent/dws/wfaa/latestnews/stories/wfaa090325_mo_detained.6f8a23c1.html


Soooooooooo let me get this straight.  The officer only pulled you over because you are black.  Had nothing to do with the fact that you admittedly ran a red light, your wife jumps up out of the car and takes off running, and you stand there screaming at the cop.   I have sympathy that his mother-in-law died but that doesn't excuse breaking the law.  The comments just pissed me off at the link and I had to stop reading.

[NHSparky]

This cop overstepped his bounds.  Dude was being a total prick--why?  Because he could.  If it were my mother and the cop pulled this shit, well, let's just say Mr. Moats showed far more restraint that I would have.

[Chris_]

This cop overstepped his bounds.  Dude was being a total prick--why?  Because he could.  If it were my mother and the cop pulled this shit, well, let's just say Mr. Moats showed far more restraint that I would have.

The cop should have stopped when the nurses came out of the hospital and verified the situation.  Up to that point, he had no reason to believe the driver.

[NHSparky]

The cop should have stopped when the nurses came out of the hospital and verified the situation.  Up to that point, he had no reason to believe the driver.

And yet the cop persisted.  Should tell ya a lot right there.

[Chris_]

And yet the cop persisted.  Should tell ya a lot right there.

Yup, at that point he let emotions rule...kinda like DUmmies do.

[Hawkgirl]

Soooooooooo let me get this straight.  The officer only pulled you over because you are black.  Had nothing to do with the fact that you admittedly ran a red light, your wife jumps up out of the car and takes off running, and you stand there screaming at the cop.   I have sympathy that his mother-in-law died but that doesn't excuse breaking the law. 

Are you ****ing kidding me?  If I am rushing to a hospital for a family member who is dying...I sure as hell am going to run red lights, speed, and whatever (short of running someone over) to be by their side. 
The cop is a total scumbag.  I work in a hospital and most cops have the DECENCY to accept some situations warrant compassion.  This IS CERTAINLY ONE OF THEM.

[EastFacingNorth]

Maybe it's because I wouldn't be all that broken up if my own mother passed on, or maybe it's because I'd be dancing a jig if my future mother-in-law shuffled off this mortal coil.  Or maybe it's because I realize my presence in the room of a dying person will change the outcome not one iota.  But I have to side with the police officer in this one.

[thundley4]

My opinion is that the cop could have gotten his drivers license, he already had the vehicle, so there would time later for the ticket.  For that matter he could have accompanied him to the hospital room.  The cop was being an ass, and unreasonable.

[rich_t]

Unfortunately some folks do not know how to properly exercize power and authority.  This cop appears to be one of them.

[mamacags]

I am sorry I didn't realize laws were only for other people.

[rich_t]

I am sorry I didn't realize laws were only for other people.

The dude was already gonna get a ticket.  The cop didn't have to be a complete ass about it.  Especially after the hospital staff came out and confirmed his story.

An officer has some pretty broad discretionary authority.  IMO this cop acted like a jerk.

[mamacags]

I understand that the cop is an asshole.  But, was he an asshole before the incident or did the guy turn into an asshole after being seriously pissed off?  And yes he should have let him go after the nurses and the other cop asked him to.  But the comments from Moats piss me off to no end.  He takes no responsibility for breaking the law and the actions after the fact and goes straight to blaming the cop and calling him a racist. 

[rich_t]

But the comments from Moats piss me off to no end.  He takes no responsibility for breaking the law and the actions after the fact and goes straight to blaming the cop and calling him a racist. 

Huh?

I've read that article more than once. 

Where did Moats claim in that article that he didn't break the law?

Where did Moats call the cop a racist? 

FFS even the Chief of Police was embarrassed over the actions of this cop.  That right there tells me a lot.

"I certainly hope anybody who saw the videotape immediately understood how serious the misconduct is," Chief Kunkle said Thursday afternoon.

The picture in the video shows a pretty young cop, perhaps he was "feeling" his authority that night?.  And a cop telling a citizen "That I can totally screw you over right now" is outrageous.  That possible falls under abuse under the color of law. Title 18 USC 242.

Or don't you think that an officer of the law threatening to "screw someone over" is abuse?

The Chief probably knows the city is facing a lawsuit they don't want if Moats decides to push the issue.

[mamacags]

The original article had a statement from the Moats family saying that the cop only pulled him over and caused problems because he was black.  I read it on my cell phone and then found the link online to post.  Between the two articles I picked the wrong one.  Let me find the original one I read.  Totally my fault.

[mamacags]

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.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4017382

[thundley4]

The officer issued an apology today, Shep just covered the story on FNC.

[Chris_]

To say it's race-related is ridiculous. The guy did break the law and the cop should have pulled him over. But when he got the details from the occupants of the car and the nurses at the hospital, he should have assessed that this was not going to be a typical traffic stop and he should act accordingly. He needs better people skills, to say the least.

[Chris_]

Are you ****ing kidding me?  If I am rushing to a hospital for a family member who is dying...I sure as hell am going to run red lights, speed, and whatever (short of running someone over) to be by their side. 
The cop is a total scumbag.  I work in a hospital and most cops have the DECENCY to accept some situations warrant compassion.  This IS CERTAINLY ONE OF THEM.

No one intends to kill someone while they are breaking the law. But sometimes that happens.

What if Moats had hit and killed someone on the way to see his dying mother? The victim's family might not be comforted with the excuse, "But his mom was dying!"

I certainly understand the instinct to tell everyone to get out of the effing way, especially in crisis situations, but that doesn't give us a free pass to put their lives in danger too. Not everyone is aware or even sympathetic to what is going on in your life at any given moment.

[rich_t]

I don't give a hoot about the racial component of this story.

This officer acted inappropriately.  Even the Chief of Police said so.

I wonder if the cop was "ordered" to make that apology, or if he actually meant it.

[Miss Mia]

I don't give a hoot about the racial component of this story.

This officer acted inappropriately.  Even the Chief of Police said so.

I wonder if the cop was "ordered" to make that apology, or if he actually meant it.

I'm sure it was ordered.  After reviewing the tape the officer didn't feel anything that he did was wrong (I read that in an article). 

[rich_t]

I'm sure it was ordered.  After reviewing the tape the officer didn't feel anything that he did was wrong (I read that in an article). 

Yeah.. I can see where threating to screw somone over, pointing a gun at unarmed and unviolent civilians over a traffic stop in a hospital parking lost is the "right thing" to do.

 

Hopefully the department will keep a very close eye on this young officer in coming months.

[MrsSmith]

Cops are human, they can do dumb things.  Most cops seem to be very understanding in emergency situations.  My brother was once rushing my father to the hospital after burning gasoline sprayed on him, met a cop just after he'd turned onto the highway.  The cop flipped around and came up behind him with his lights on (which must have been something worth seeing...I know how my brother drives when he's in a hurry.)

Anyway, my brother waves at the cop to get ahead of him a couple times...and he did.  Lights on, sirens blaring, all the way to the hospital.  He watched while my bro ran in for a wheelchair and while he got Dad into it, then waved and drove off.  This is typical behavior from an officer that understands there is an emergency.  I have seen or heard similar stories a number of times.  It is NOT typical for a cop to pull a power-play during an emergency...which is why those stories always make headlines.

[GOP Congress]

I will even go out on a limb here and say that the cop can be HELD LIABLE for contributing to the death of the woman. This is not just a case of sensitivity, but outright negligence in a medical emergency.

On a side note, let's say the driver ran a light and crashed into a pole and his passenger was obviously hurt. Would the cop have berated him for running the light without calling an ambulance? I don't see ANY difference here.

I frankly think criminal charges should be considered for the policeman, myself. How the driver vocally is of no concern.  Please keep in mind that I'm strongly in favor of law and order, but in some cases such action is necessary. A court of law would be able to determine a correct action.

[rich_t]

I will even go out on a limb here and say that the cop can be HELD LIABLE for contributing to the death of the woman. This is not just a case of sensitivity, but outright negligence in a medical emergency.

On a side note, let's say the driver ran a light and crashed into a pole and his passenger was obviously hurt. Would the cop have berated him for running the light without calling an ambulance? I don't see ANY difference here.

I frankly think criminal charges should be considered for the policeman, myself. How the driver vocally is of no concern.  Please keep in mind that I'm strongly in favor of law and order, but in some cases such action is necessary. A court of law would be able to determine a correct action.

I think you misread the article.  The dying woman was already in the hospital and dying from cancer. 

The cop in no way contributed to her death.

[Strider]

All one has to do to understand how this happened is to do a bit of research into black politics in Dallas and then take a look at the crime statistics....
not pointing to blame, just cause and effect.