How is the cop supposed to know that this isn't just another in a long line of excuses?
Because the hospital employees told him
Hospital security guards arrived and told Powell that the Moatses' relative really was upstairs dying.
Powell spent several minutes inside his squad car, in part to check Moats for outstanding warrants. He found none.
Another hospital staffer came out and spoke with a Plano police officer who had arrived.
"Hey, that's the nurse," the Plano officer told Powell. "She said that the mom's dying right now, and she's wanting to know if they can get him up there before she dies."
"All right," Powell replied. "I'm almost done."
As Moats signed the ticket, Powell continued his lecture.
The hospital security at 7 1/2 minutes or so into the video tells officer the lady is coding and they need Mr. Moats to sign something..