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.
Look at the clock on the video. It was about 13:56:10 when the trooper first passed the ambulance on the highway. He had them pulled over less than two minutes later.
If you watched the video, how can you say there was no patient?
Still remains to be seen as to why the ambulance didn't have it's lights/siren going with a patient inside? Makes no difference what I say, I don't hate the police enough to be on this thread. Have a great day...
I think for fire trucks, on average, going emergency to a call only shaves off 45 seconds. Ambulances would be different depending on how far they have to go, and they don't have any devices to limit their speed to 55 mph. But they should only transport emergency if it will improve patient care. Sirens can further unnerve people having heart attacks.
No that just made you WRONG. What made you obstinate was creating a difference of facts in evidence.
Like I said....I don’t hate the police enough for this thread.
you failed to address the obvious......where the heck was the cop going lights and sirens when he could just drop everything to chase down someone giving him the finger? what a loser that patrolman was. he, himself, should be arrested for interfering in the care of a patient.
and I notice he let the driver go and went after the black man.......I cannot imagine being on a call like that.
I thought you watched the video in detail. From your #160:
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).
Will you retract your claim now? If not, then doesn't that mean you are dishonest?
It’s funny how people can see the same thing to arrive at opposing conclusions regarding what they saw. This is important when considering an eye witness account in a trial case. Consider the number of convictions which have been reversed using today’s DNA evidence, where the individual was often convicted based on eye witness testimony.
While you and I may most likely draw the same/similar conclusions regarding what we witnessed, there are many folks like this guy/gal (luvs dubya), who doesn’t seem to be able to, with any consistent precision, correctly identify what they saw. There is a good argument in Psychology for pre-conceived notions which affect how we perceive things.
In this case, none of our pre-conceived notions should affect what we see since we can review the data over and over. Yet luvsdubya seeks to blame our perceptions on a pre-dispostion to reject authority. (Hate police) His/her theory is flawed in this case, since we can all review the data again and again. Therefore, we should all be able to conclude the LEO was raving and behaving like a madman.
The fact luvsdubya can’t, or refuses to recognize the LEO’s indecent behavior, speaks volumes regarding his/her own flaws in correctly perceiving, and/or acknowledging the data as presented.
Instead of passing judgment on me, why don't you go back and read one of my first postings on this thread...I stated that I thought cop acted like a jerk. My main comment was WHY DIDN'T THE AMBULANCE HAVE IT'S LIGHTS OR SIREN RUNNNING TO INDICATE THEY HAD A PATIENT? Clear enough? I don't buy the "they were on a country road so no lights are needed" or "their lights/sirens confuse people and make it more dangerous."
Your putting me or my opinions down isn't going to make the ambulance driver's actions plausible, nor your excuses for those actions. Have a wonderful day, FRiend.
Why should I retract my claim? I have watched the video several times. I watched it for each point that was argued against me...at the time it was the double yellow line. I also contend that the ambulance could see the cop coming from a long ways away and had time to pull over safely, without the other car in the way. It just didn' do it. But you go right ahead and try to belittle anybody that doesn't agree with you. The ambulance should have pulled over or should have had it's lights and siren going.
I'm done with this as you won't change my mind and I won't change yours. Have a great day
So get off your knees and welcome to the real world Kool.
Molon Labe,
NSNR
“WHY DIDN’T THE AMBULANCE HAVE IT’S LIGHTS OR SIREN RUNNNING TO INDICATE THEY HAD A PATIENT? Clear enough?”
Facts are, they did have a patient. (Which you denied even after claiming to have reviewed the clip multiple times.)
Immediately upon being notified they had a patient in route to the hospital, the HP should have released them to continue. He could follow them to the hospital. Once the patient was rendered under the care of the hospital, then he could pursue his unjust cause. (My opinion based on the clip as he approached and passed the ambulance.)
But no, his uncontrollable anger ruled the circumstance. So much so, he was willing to risk the life of the patient to make his point. He absolutely had no idea the condition of the patient, nor was he concerned about the patient.
My point is, he is not fit to serve. Meanwhile, your major concern is lights and sirens. Opinions aside, herein lies the gap between knowing what is relevant to the situation, and what’s surely not, in any measure, relevant to the situation as it progressed.
YOu’re right. You know everything. I am so wrong I should be banished from the planet...But at least I’m not a unilateral cop hater. Feel better?
OHP needs to fire an officer and the county needs to get a new DA. Publicly stating I’d be proud to have EMT Maurice White stand up for me. We should stand up for him.
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