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.
I'm going to ignore your pings now since you are saying nothing new. Have a nice evening, FRiend
Misses!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You mean missed GED grad. Are you employed in a convenience store or the local neighborhood shoe shine consultant?
Just The Facts,
Molon Labe, NSNR
Check your Internet connection. You're posts are coming in weak and stupid.
The last refuge of a troll is to banner attack a typo.
You are 100 % coorect in your analogy of the incident. The driver was responsible and the alleged assistant EMT was interfering with a Police Officer in performance of his duties.
As I said before, the non driving emt escalated the situation and deservered to be arrested for interference, disorderly contact and attemting to cause a riot.
I have been in those situations( the perp was cuffed&stuffed regardless) and for those who are the TV quarterbacks need to cap their pieholes.
The back emt was extremely stupid, hostile, combative, an anti-authoritarian and should have left the scene in cuffs.
The Police Officer haters are many of the Odumbo supporters and or had some past experience with LEO(s) involving some violations.
Those of us who still respect law&order can see the damaging results of the liberal teachers, professors, community organizers and other marxists communists have inflicted on the uninformed masses.
Nice to see some prudent and sane minded freepers are still on this site.
Respectfully,
NSNR
Only a very insecure person considers a simple question to be "interfering with a Police Officer". That is a bogus catch all that you appear to use to put people "in thier place" and that you very much enjoy. You shouldn't have a cub scout badge let alone authority.
As I said before, the non driving emt escalated the situation and deservered to be arrested for interference, disorderly contact and attemting to cause a riot.
The idiot LEO escalated the situation. Who's screaming? Him. Who's cursing? Him. Who's threatening? Him. The EMTs were nothing but calm. Trying to figure out what this lunatic was doing.
I have been in those situations( the perp was cuffed&stuffed regardless) and for those who are the TV quarterbacks need to cap their pieholes.
You've been attacked by EMTs! Really!!! I don't believe you. Do also live in fear of firemen and dog catchers? What about utility workers? I bet you really show them who's boss.
The Police Officer haters are many of the Odumbo supporters and or had some past experience with LEO(s) involving some violations.
I don't even go to donut shops.
Those of us who still respect law&order can see the damaging results of the liberal teachers, professors, community organizers and other marxists communists have inflicted on the uninformed masses.
Indeed. If we allow an EMT to stand his ground against a lunatic LEO today, everyone will start thinking that they have rights. And then what are insecure LEO's going to do to fluff their egos? They have to go home and pick on their own families. I understand why this frightens you.
Every person who willfully delays, obstructs or in any way interferes with an emergency medical technician or other emergency medical care provider in the performance of or attempt to perform emergency medical care and treatment or in going to or returning from the scene of a medical emergency, upon conviction, is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding six (6) months, or by a fine not to exceed Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00), or by both such fine and imprisonment.
To paraphrase George Orwell’s Animal Farm:
The law applies to everyone equally, but it applies to some people more equally.
I didn’t read the article; I was only addressing comments about the ambulance going lights and sirens. =)
There was no emergency on a transport to some hospital. Emergencies are when siren and lights are flashing. Nice try, but the Brooklyn Bridge is not for sale today, tomorrow or yesterday.
Whena violation of the law occurs, then it is the duty of the LEO to investigate the offense.
Respectfully,
NSNR
You know what sampleman, “Nimpty Stimp was also a Tenny Shoe Pimp.” You have your opinion and I have mine, but you sure can whine.
That Was Then, This Is Now,
NSNR
If you're going to start posting in rhyme,
this is most assuredly a waste of time.
See you on the next thread covering this OHP officers removal.
The EMT would have been arrested on the spot by me and resistance would have been futile. He was dead wrong and sane prudent an reasonable citizens can see this in his actions.
These Cop Haters have a problem recognizing and adhering to lawful authority. They remind me of those anarchists and domestic terrorist intent on repudiation of law and order.
The EMT was trying to udsurp the Troopers authority and was interfering with an officer in performance of his duties. He should have been cuffed and stuffed straight to jail after a citation was issued to the EMT driver for failure to yield/provoking speeches and gestures.
Your post is correct and the mooks(contemptible idiots)will never understand.
Respectfully,
NSNR
I know. But what I wanted you to check was when he refers to White as what I hear as “piece of trash.”
Start at 14:00 on the counter. (middle of video) When calling in code three, Martin says he “got this ambulance over here... needs help over here”...Then I hear him say what I think is: “this piece of trash.”
I could be wrong. That’s why I was seeking a confirmation. But it sounds like it to me when you listen very carefully.
I used my headphones.
Read the statute again. It applies to EMTs performing emergency medical care. It does NOT say the problem must be an emergency medical condition for the law to apply.
Suppose a medic is carrying a patient with a simple scraped knee to the ambulance, and a bystander tries to stop him. According to your reasoning, the bystander would not be violating the statute, right?
Trooper Martin is very lucky he's not facing charges.
an officer still has to have made an honest traffic stop, and this was not. there was a patient in the ambulance and many states have laws regarding the interference of a paramedic fulfilling his duties to his patient. the officer was indeed informed that there was care being given to a patient and he failed to listen. communication is a two way street......and we need to weed out over zealous control freaks from law enforcement. this guy is a prime candidate.
A follow up story has the patient having blacked out after exercising and complaining of chest pains. The spokesperson for the EMTs goes on to explain often they run without sirens and lights to not further excite the patient under this condition. They want to keep the patient calm.
I listened on many times and didn’t here that.
Thanks for the update. I would think any medical personnel, as well as any reasonable layman, would consider that a medical emergency until proven otherwise.
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