I bet you have even gotten so worked up that you've taken the bullet that you're allowed to carry out of your shirt pocket and loaded it into "ole Thunder". Try not to shoot yourself in the foot.
Posted on 06/14/2009 12:19:46 PM PDT by kenth
PRAGUE — The Oklahoma Highway Patrol released a dashboard camera video late Friday that was recorded during an altercation between a patrol trooper and an emergency medical technician. Featured Gallery
The patrol said the move is contrary to what the agency normally does but decided to release the video because of the high level of public interest and the fact that the release "would not affect the administrative review” of the patrol’s investigation of the incident, according to a statement released late Friday.
"We’ve been well aware of the fact that this incident has drawn enormous attention, but made the decision to protect the integrity of the investigation, any and all relevant evidence, as well as the rights of the department employees during the course of the investigation as required by law,” said patrol spokesman Capt. Chris West.
The move came after the patrol received sharp criticism by the attorney representing the technician, who questioned the patrol’s initial decision not to release the video.
The patrol has completed its internal investigation into the actions of trooper Daniel Martin, who has been placed on administrative leave with pay, West said. The investigation is now under review.
Martin, a patrolman with two years experience, has been cleared of criminal wrongdoing by Okfuskee County District Attorney Max Cook. He also said he would not file charges against Creek Nation EMT Maurice White Jr., who is the person involved in the altercation with Martin.
Richard O’Carroll, White’s attorney, had earlier criticized the patrol for not releasing the video.
"Why wouldn’t they release the video?” said O’Carroll of Tulsa.
West initially defended his agency’s decision to withhold the dashboard video, adding that Martin is entitled to his "due process” as a state employee. Martin claims the ambulance driver, Paul Franks, rolled down his window and made an obscene gesture at him. Franks denies making such a gesture.
"This investigation is to determine whether any disciplinary actions should be taken or not,” West said. "We’re trying to take the high road here.
One video of the incident has reached the public domain. The video was taken by the ambulance patient’s son on his cell phone camera and posted on YouTube.
Martin is shown choking White outside the ambulance with another patrolman, Brian Iker, urging everyone to remain calm.
"Thank God there was a camera, or else my client would have been prosecuted by now,” O’Carroll said.
“”2. If the OHP was on a Code 3 to get to a stolen car report, why didn’t he concern himself with looking for a stolen car?””
Go back and watch the video and read police report...if you already have, then get a brain.
Thanks for playing but the kindergarten class is over.
I bet you have even gotten so worked up that you've taken the bullet that you're allowed to carry out of your shirt pocket and loaded it into "ole Thunder". Try not to shoot yourself in the foot.
Just curious.....why wouldn’t the ambulance have it’s lights and sirens going with a patient on board?
How about you answer the question? Or are all LEO’s or LEO wantabe’s above that?
Major ego trip...major anger attitude...major idiot since he had no knowledge of patient condition who could have been dying for all he knew.
The family and friends following the ambulance to the hospital did a swell job of maintaining self control while the rabid madman ranted about how self important and powerful he is...All the while the patient lay inside awaiting medical treatment.
Any raving rabid dog like this one is obviously unfit for duty. Reverse the situtation, and put his wife, daughter or mother, in the back of that ambulance. Would he have behaved the same? If the answer is no, then he is unfit.
Honestly, I saw from the video that the HP had to cross the double yellow line on a blind hill to go around the ambulance (that didnt' have lights or a siren going). Then upon arriving at the scene, there was a Sheriff's vehicle there. Looks like the sheriff was taking care of the initial problem which freed the HP of the situation.
The first thing the Hp officer said to the driver upon stopping him was about his failure to pull over not the "salute". the HP is a jerk but w/o some indication that there was a patient in the ambulance, how was the HP to know why the driver didn't yield to his lights/siren? JMO
As the OHP approached, the ambulance had to go around a car that was pulled over (probably thought the siren was on the ambulance). The EMT driver then had a soft shoulder and a heavy vehicle to contend with, so he had to slow down before he pulled onto the shoulder. This took four seconds from the time he went around the car, which sounds prudent to me. If you’ll watch the video, the ambulance was well over before the OHP got around him.
In what universe does that constitute failure to yield?
“Honestly, I saw from the video that the HP had to cross the double yellow line on a blind hill to go around the ambulance “
Then you need to see it again. He passed easily on flat surface with no yellow line his side. At the point the driver could have pulled over, there was a vehicle on the side of the road right at the crest of the hill. Clearing that obstacle, and not risking their own lives, by that time, the HP passed them with ease and safely.
It appears that they had just loaded the patient. Also most ambulances don't run their siren unless they need to clear traffic for some reason. The only reason to blow a siren down an empty rural road (ambulances are to obey the speed limit) is a Barney Fife complex.
I just watched the video again and there was more than enough time for the ambulance driver to pull over as the HP had his sirens going for a loooong time. We can see the ambulance in the video way before the HP needed to pass him. He didn't make any attempt to pull over when the other car was not an issue.
Do watch the video again.
1. Notice the car that the ambulance had to get around before he could pull over.
2. Note that the shoulder is not paved, thus prone to be soft (also note the weather) and note that an ambulance is a very heavy vehicle for its size. Pulling a heavy vehicle onto a soft shoulder at highway speed is begging for an accident.
3. Note that within 5 seconds of passing the car the ambulance has slowed and that as the OHP car goes past the ambulance is pulled over as far as he possible can without being off of the shoulder, and has cleared about 80% of his lane for the OHP.
Ummmmm, there was a double yellow line right up until the HP passed the amublance. The HP couldn't pass before just that instant. HP had to drive behind the ambulance until the center line changed.
It would be dangerous driving indeed to try and whip a heavy truck (ambulance) onto a soft shoulder while braking hard to stop before the car.
Again, we are talking about a 5 second delay at most here! To charge the EMT with failure to yield is just the OHP having a power trip.
I guess they were in no hurry to get to their patient, then. They could have pulled over for the HP. :)
They did pull over as quickly as they safely could. Are you an LEO defending this type of crap?
Additionally, as I stated before, ambulances aren't supposed to speed. If they were running the speed limit, why would they need their siren. That said, it doesn't matter. What the EMT driver did with his vehicle was extremely prudent. No other safe truck driver would have done anything different in that situation.
And why didn't he burn a sacrificial goat to honor the OHP LEO? Such lack of respect cannot be tolerated!! Otherwise every day lowly citizens will start thinking that they have just as many rights as LEO's. Then they might start expecting LEO's to behave in a dignified manner and obeying the laws themselves. They might even stop feeling that they must submit their dignity when pulled over by an LEO.
Oh the horror of it!
Wow. if one doesn't hate policemen then you must be a cop, eh? Sorry, I'm just a lowely citizen that is trying to look at this in an objective manner.
Actually, I've watched the video each time you or someone has brought up a point and watched JUST that point of the arguement.
The ambulance had no patient/lights/siren when the HP came along WITH his siren (can't see thelights). They had plenty of time to pull over in advance of the car on the side of the road. The HP siren can be heard and the ambulance can be seen as a white speck getting bigger. The ambulance could have safely pulled over when they first heard the HP sirens.
Why didn't they? They didn't have a patient and, if it was an emergency, why didn't they have their own sirens going? doesn't make sense
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