Posted on 03/26/2009 8:04:11 AM PDT by goodolemr
PLANO, Texas (AP) — A police officer was put on desk duty after pulling over an NFL player rushing to see his dying mother-in-law in the hospital and holding him in the hospital parking lot as she died.
Dallas police officer Robert Powell stopped Houston Texans running back Ryan Moats' SUV outside Baylor Regional Medical Center during the early hours of March 18 after Moats rolled through a red light. Moats and his family had gotten a call saying his mother-in-law was dying.
Video from a dashboard camera inside the officer's vehicle, obtained by Dallas-Fort Worth station WFAA-TV, revealed an intense exchange in which the officer threatened to jail Moats.
(Excerpt) Read more at google.com ...
Obvious racism
The Moatses, who are black, said they can’t help but think that race might have played a part in how Powell, who is white, treated them
There just might be a little bit of racism involved here. I’m inclined to believe a little bit that a white guy might have gotten a break.
The racism bit was stupid, but I’ve seen infuriating stories like this in the past - the same reason “zero tolerance” policies are stupid. If you don’t believe someone’s reason/excuse, follow them to their destination. Power goes to some peoples’ heads.
I don’t know if it was racism. I just think it was an inexperienced cop on a power trip. Sad story in any case.
From the degree that the news put it in, it is screwed up. But to automatically go to "it was a racial thing" is proposterous. People have played the race card to long. It is time to move on.
“The Moatses, who are black, said they can’t help but think that race might have played a part in how Powell, who is white, treated them.”
The cop stops the guy for running a red light, a passenger flees the scene, the guy is uncooperative and argumentative. He is not beaten, cursed, or abused. He gets a ticket. Now the cop’s job is at risk because someone plays the race card.
In the future, we’ll be hearing about “envy” instead of racism. It will be a matter of the lower class, union policeman vs. the rich black athlete.
What do you mean racists? Cops treat EVERYONE that way. “You people” support a well armed and aggressive police state. So quit your damn complaining!
Maybe. I don’t know for sure, I’m just saying maybe racism was a factor. I think a rich white guy might have gotten through fine.
Honestly, I don’t think rookie cops have the wisdom to deal with these kind of situations. They shouldn’t be given the power to give tickets til they have more experience.
He dug his own hole because he doesn’t understand empathy.
Read. The. Story.
And this one: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/032609dnmetcopstop.3e9c080.html
The cop was completely out of line.
see video from dash cam here
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/032609dnmetcopstop.3e9c080.html
You really can't win..
2009 Nominee for Douchebag of the Year Award. A definite frontrunner.
If it was at the intersection of Preston Rd and GWBT/190 then that’s where even right turns on red are not permitted.
So perhaps a zero tolerance policy is justified as the intersection is dangerous.
And the driver didn’t produce proof of insurance right away. Maybe the cop did the right thing and is getting a bum rap and undue pubicity because he’s white.
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