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.
Ping to my follow-up post at #178
Have you seen/heard anything about this mystery woman that at least of couple of sources have reported was in Trooper Martin’s patrol car when he stopped the ambulance?
Thanks! But as far as the mystery woman is concerned, I still feel like I’m just banging my head against a wall and getting nowhere. I’m not a big fan of conspiracy theories, but I’m starting to think this mystery woman is really relevant to the case — just seems like somebody is working hard to suppress any mentions of her, either by the media or in the trooper statements to the OHP or anywhere. Who wants her kept out of it and why?
I don’t have access to TV during the week. If anybody has a chance to watch Fox News, which is where I’m pretty sure I heard the report that Martin’s wife was in the car (only other possibility is CNN), I’d love to know if there’s any further mention of her, or whether she’s mysteriously evaporated from that source too.
Well, yes, it might be very important.
Ego issues, perhaps, if a wife or a girlfriend?
Again, I usually support law enforcement. I have made dozens of citizens arrests, myself, when I worked retail.
I am also a former EMT.
So, I expect everyone to behave in a professional and service-oriented manner.
If it was Trooper Martin’s wife or girlfriend, it’s hard to see how anyone but Trooper Martin would have an interest in suppressing information about the fact that she was there. And he’s certainly not in the driver’s seat when it comes to what information is getting released to the media, so the question would reamin, “Who is suppressing the information?”.
Another possibility is that, although it was Martin’s wife or girlfriend, the OHP has an interest in suppressing this information because it pretty routinely, but illegally, has allowed troopers to give their wives and/or girlfriends rides in patrol cars while on duty. Having the info about the presence of Martin’s wife in the car out in the media would prompt a lot of loud questions as to “What the heck was she doing there? Is that allowed?”. This would force the OHP to say, “No, actually it’s not allowed”. Which would lead to Martin and his attorney protesting “But everybody does it.” Which would lead to higher-ups at the OHP taking some serious discipline or even job losses at the hands of politicians who are under pressure to show the OHP isn’t a mob of loose cannons who casually ignore the law.
I’m going to keep an eye out for more info on this obscure aspect of the case. I expect we’ll find out eventually, because Fox has chosen to make national story out of this, and isn’t going to back down until everything is investigated and the officer is disciplined, fired, or prosecuted.
Of course, the extreme “law and order” types on this thread will have some egg on their faces, if it turns out that the cop was BREAKING THE RULES somehow, huh?
I think it’s pretty clear already that he was breaking more rules than can be counted on both hands. Anyone who’s refusing to see that now, isn’t ever going to admit seeing it.
I think I’m a a fairly extreme law-and-order type myself, and that’s why I’m not willing to accept the trooper’s behavior, or the fact that the OHP was apparently eager to cover it up until really forced to start putting out the information. The trooper willfully caused a major disruption of law and order.
Okay, now AP is reporting that Trooper Martin’s wife was in the patrol car with him, but still without a word of explanation. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5guJxbV_-vibDczPSeMTEOpldCrXwD98RCTLO0
Inquiring minds want to know: WHAT was she doing there, and was she asked to give a statement back when the troopers had to give their statements? She’s a material witness to this incident, and if she wasn’t asked to give a statement at the time, it’s certainly too late now, since she and her husband have had plenty of time to sort out their stories to make sure they match.
It seems there are some fools here trying to hang the Trooper and kiss the EMT’s ass. I myself wonder why the driver did not pull over initially. I have to presume the perp in the back of the ambulance probably told the driver to hell with pulling over.
The perp in the ambulance had a hostile and combative attitude towards the Trooper. The trooper should checked out the ambulance for some drugs and other illegal items.
The trooper had a disorderly charge and interfering with a peace officer in performance of their duties charge on the low life. I wish he had cuffed and stuffed the perp.
The tax payers probably paid for the ambulance transport anyway. (Obama Change Be FUBU)
Respectfully,
NSNR
I agree there is a real worry they would have let this clown slide without the publicity.
And you can go on and on with the crimes this guy committed. Burglery is another one since he opened the door of that ambulance without any suspicion that any crime was being committed in there.
Yeah, no kidding. I finally just quit responding. Since I had a difference of opinion I was being "Obstinate". LOL
And, what if she laughed at her husband, while they were arguing, and then said, “hey, that guy flipped you off”?
Well it is apparent that many of the (obumo quarterbacks) have never worked in LE or can even spell it correctly.
Hell, they probably are employed by Acorn as census workers.
Thanks for responding and keep the faith.
Respectfully,
NSNR
:)
Wouldn’t surprise me in the least that he had his wife in the car taking her somewhere. There’s some long distances on the Creek Reservation and not much else.
Do you think it’s actually formally allowed, for troopers to give family members rides while on duty? It wouldn’t be in most jurisdictions that I’m familiar with, for a whole laundry list of reasons (liability probably topping the list — both for injuries to the family member and for injuries/damage caused by the family member).
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.