[Currentriverrat]

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

[null and void]

[Leg Olam]

Search is your friend.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2215244/posts

[domenad]

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.

[Dan Nunn]

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.

[Riodacat]

It's great to see cops enforcing minor traffic offences with such passion.
Is this a great country or what?

[Hacklehead]

“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.

[rednesss]

Officer Robert Powell

2009 Nominee for Douchebag of the Year Award. A definite frontrunner.

[A_Former_Democrat]

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.

[Cyman]

Tough story and tougher situation for the police officer. If you examine his actions on the traffic stop ,taking away the situation, this officer could be severly reprimanded for not controlling the occupants of the car.If you want to see a traffic stop go bad I refer you to what just happened in Oakland.

Some times the situation makes it so you can’t help but screw the pooch.

[Zuben Elgenubi]

Well, I'm glad there is at least one NFL player with a clean record. He seemed to be deferential to the policeman (who did not behave as an officer, because an officer in command would have evaluated the situation and let the family attend the death. This cop should be referred to as "Private Powell").

[pnz1]

Here’s the whole 16 min video from the dash cam..

http://www.wfaa.com/video/index.html?nvid=345766

[Ratman83]

I think the cop should have taken him to jail for being stupid. He could have just gotten the ticket and been inside if he had just given the the cop the insurance and license. He also ran stop signs. The cop was a jerk but it is easier to just get the ticket than to try to fight verbally to get out of it.

[<1/1,000,000th%]

“He was pointing a gun at me as soon as I got out of the car,” said his wife, Tamishia Moats. “It was the weirdest feeling because I’ve never had a gun pointed at me before under those circumstances.”

Huh???

[TankerKC]

I watched the video and have a few comments before reading the thread:

1. Why do people think that you can drive like a maniac and park anywhere you want, as long as you have on your emergency flashers?

2. This is typical of any stop, in any city, on any night, except that an NFL player was involved. I don't like it, but this is what cops do. (I'm not referring to giving tickets. I'm referring to lecturing you and purposely delaying you longer than necessary.)

3. In the video, someone from the hospital comes out and says that they need Moates to sign some papers to do a procedure. Since when does a hospital need a son-in-law to sign something before helping a old lady who is coding?

[Nachoman]

I think the officer is going to have a real problem. Because of this incident, he will be reluctant to be aggressive with minority suspects. A moment’s hesitation could be fatal.