Ryan Moats pulled over outside hospital while rushing to be with dying mother-in-law.

[Austin70]

link (http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/032609dnmetcopstop.3e9c080.html)

In Dallas of coarse.

As he rushed his family to the hospital, 26-year-old NFL running back Ryan Moats rolled through a red light. A Dallas police officer pulled their SUV over outside the emergency room.

Moats and his wife explained that her mother was dying inside the hospital.
Video
NFL player pulled over while rushing to see dying mother-in-law
03/26/2009
More general news video
View larger
E-mail Clip
More Video
News Videos

Irving ISD storing thousands of unused textbooks

Hillary Clinton visits Mexico, promises help in drug war

NFL player pulled over while rushing to see dying mother-in-law


"You really want to go through this right now?" Moats pleaded. "My mother-in-law is dying. Right now!"

The officer, 25-year-old Robert Powell, was unmoved. He spent long minutes writing Moats a ticket and threatened him with arrest.

"I can screw you over," the officer told Moats. "I'd rather not do that."

The scene last week, captured by a dashboard video camera, prompted apologies and the promise of an investigation from Dallas police officials Wednesday.

"There were some things that were said that were disturbing, to say the least," said Lt. Andy Harvey, a police spokesman.

Moats' mother-in-law, Jonetta Collinsworth, was struggling at 45 with breast cancer that had spread throughout her body. Family members rushed to her bedside from as far away as California.

On March 17, the night of their incident with Powell, the Moatses had gone to their Frisco home to get some rest. Around midnight, they received word that they needed to hurry back to the hospital if they wanted to see Collinsworth before she died.

The couple, along with Collinsworth's father and an aunt, jumped into the SUV and headed back toward Baylor Regional Medical Center at Plano. They exited the Dallas North Tollway at Preston Road, just down the street from the hospital.

Moats turned on his hazard lights. He stopped at a red light, where, he said, the only nearby motorist signaled for him to go ahead. He went through.

Powell, watching traffic from a hidden spot, flipped on his lights and sirens. In less than a minute, he caught up to the SUV and followed for about 20 more seconds as Moats found a parking spot outside the emergency room.

Moats' wife, 27-year-old Tamishia, was the first out. Powell yelled at her to get back in.

"Get in there!" he yelled. "Let me see your hands!"

"My mom is dying," she explained.

Powell was undeterred.

"I saw in his eyes that he really did not care," Tamishia Moats said Wednesday.

Tamishia Moats and her great-aunt ignored the officer and headed into the hospital. Ryan Moats stayed behind with the father of the dying woman.

"I waited until no traffic was coming," Moats told Powell, explaining his passage through the red light. "I got seconds before she's gone, man."

Powell demanded his license and proof of insurance. Moats produced his license but said he didn't know where the insurance paperwork was.

"Just give me a ticket or whatever," he said, beginning to sound exasperated and a little argumentative.

"Shut your mouth," Powell told him. "You can cooperate and settle down, or I can just take you to jail for running a red light."

There was more back and forth.

"If you're going to give me a ticket, give me a ticket."

"Your attitude says that you need one."

"All I'm asking you is just to hurry up."

Powell began a lecture.

"If you want to keep this going, I'll just put you in handcuffs," the officer said, "and I'll take you to jail for running a red light."

Powell made several more points, including that the SUV was illegally parked. Moats replied "Yes sir" to each.

"Understand what I can do," Powell concluded. "I can tow your truck. I can charge you with fleeing. I can make your night very difficult."

"I understand," Moats responded. "I hope you'll be a great person and not do that."

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.

"Attitude's everything," he said. "All you had to do is stop, tell me what was going on. More than likely, I would have let you go."

It had been about 13 minutes.

Moats and Collinsworth's father went into the hospital, where they found Collinsworth had died, with her daughter at her side.

The Moatses, who are black, said Wednesday that they can't help but think that race might have played a part in how Powell, who is white, treated them.

"I think he should lose his job," said Ryan Moats, a Dallas native who attended Bishop Lynch High School and now plays for the Houston Texans.

Powell, hired in January 2006, did not return a call for comment. Assistant Chief Floyd Simpson said Powell told police officials that he believed that he was doing his job. He has been re-assigned to dispatch pending an investigation.

"When people are in distress, we should come to the rescue," said Simpson. "We shouldn't further their distress."

Collinsworth was buried Saturday in Louisiana.

[DonnyMost]

Wow.

She died while he was talking to that prick?

He ran a red light, with his emergency lights on, and pulled into an emergency room parking lot.

How stupid can that cop be?

[justtxyank]

I'm normally a defender of the police, but that's just pathetic. I hope that guy loses his badge (though I know the more fitting punishment is probably a citation in his record or short suspension or something.)

[WhoMikeJames]

Wow.

She died while he was talking to that prick?

He ran a red light, with his emergency lights on, and pulled into an emergency room parking lot.

How stupid can that cop be?

Exactly. There's no justification on the cop's part. Ridiculous.

[Austin70]

Two people came outside from the hospital and told them that what Moats was saying was true, and he still took his time.

[ima_drummer2k]

Yeah, I'm usually the first to give the police the benefit of the doubt, but JESUS... what a complete jackass. Lecturing a man for rolling through a red light while his MIL is dying 100 feet away.

Hospital personal was coming outside to tell the cop that he wasn't lying and the cop STILL won't let it go. Seriously, I hope this douchebag is fired.

[DwangBoy]

What a pos. truly a boon to humanity.. :rolleyes:

[RasaqBoi]

i hope the cop suffers the rest of his life.

[xiki]

Horrible story. That cop needs handcuffing and lots more.

[juicystream]

I hate the police. Enough of them a jerks that I just rather not deal with them. Personally I would have went in and ignored him. If he wanted to stop me he would had to shoot me. If he was so determined to be a jerk, he could have just let them go inside and wrote them a ticket anyway. As much of a prick as he would still be, at least this probably would keep his job. I really assume he will be fired. A suspension wouldn't be enough.

[updawg]

horrible story.

[DwangBoy]

as much as i hate cops.. and truly this one deserves everlasting hating... in a deepening recession such as the one we are currently in, they are necessary--the genuine cops are whom i am referring to..

not the pos in this thread.

[texanskan]

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/6343765.html

PLANO — A white Dallas police officer who delayed Houston Texans’ running back Ryan Moats, who is black, from visiting his mother-in-law before she died in a Plano hospital has been reassigned to the dispatch division pending an investigation.

Moats, his wife and other family members rushed from their suburban Dallas home to Baylor Regional Medical Center at Plano during the early hours of March 18 after getting word about midnight that Moats’ mother-in-law, Jonetta Collinsworth, was dying.

Dallas-Fort Worth station WFAA-TV, which obtained video from a dashboard camera inside the officer’s vehicle, reported that Moats’ vehicle rolled through a red light en route to the hospital. Officer Robert Powell, 25, stopped the SUV in the hospital’s parking lot outside the emergency room.

Moats explained to the officer that he waited until there was no traffic before proceeding through the red light and that his mother-in-law was about to die. Collinsworth had breast cancer.

The dashboard video reveals an intense exchange in which the officer threatened to jail Moats.

“Get in there,” said Powell, yelling at Moats’ 27-year-old wife, Tamishia, as she exited the car. “Let me see your hands!”

“Excuse me. My mom is dying,” Tamishia Moats said. “Do you understand?”

She and her great aunt ignored the officer and rushed inside the hospital to see Collinsworth.

Hospital security guards arrived and told Powell that the Moatses’ relative really was upstairs dying. Powell checked inside his vehicle to determine whether Ryan Moats had any outstanding warrants. He found none.

Another hospital staffer came out and spoke with a Plano police officer who had arrived. The Plano officer told Powell the relative was indeed dying, in an unsuccessful attempt to intervene.

By the time the 26-year-old NFL player received a ticket and a lecture from Powell, at least 13 minutes had passed. When he and Collinsworth’s father entered the hospital, they learned Jonetta Collinsworth was dead, The Dallas Morning News reported Wednesday in its online edition.

Dallas Police Assistant Chief Floyd Simpson said Powell, who was hired in January 2006, told police officials that he believed e was doing his job.

“When people are in distress, we should come to the rescue. We shouldn’t further their distress,” Simpson said.

The Moatses said Wednesday that they can’t help but think that race might have played a part in how Powell treated them.

“I think he should lose his job,” said Ryan Moats, a Dallas native.

The ticket was dismissed, Lt. Andy Harvey told WFAA-TV.

Collinsworth was buried Saturday in Louisiana.

[leroy420]

What an incredible jackass that officer is. According to the article on chron.com (http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/6343812.html), the office still doesn't think he did anything wrong.

[MayoRocket]

One more reason to hate the police. What a complete #$%^head.

[BmwM3]

A cop on a power-trip. He needs to lose his job.

[Master Baiter]

Where's WWR to come and tell us how this asshole did a great job?

[kaleidosky]

cops suck, yet again.. and no, not all, but still too many abuse the power

[Ra Ooh La La]

Wow . . . This is a really screwed up story. Protect and Serve? My nuts.

I don't even know what kind of resolution would be appropriate for this. A real @sshole like Dallas Police Officer Robert Powell will forever be an @sshole (I hope this post stays burned in the annals of the internet forever; that his family will know throughout eternity how sh!tty he was; that they shall feel shamed and driven towards seeking redemption).

It's flat ridiculous for the father not to be able to spend the last moments of his daughter's life by her side . . . all because of d!ckhead Dallas Police Officer Robert Powell.

To the family, I'm really sad for their loss and that they had to deal with such a heartless situation through it all.

[Hippieloser]

"I can screw you over." -Every cop ever born

[famicom]

PLANO — A white Dallas police officer who delayed Houston Texans’ running back Ryan Moats, who is black, from visiting his mother-in-law before she died in a Plano hospital has been reassigned to the dispatch division pending an investigation.


Was it necessary to put this in? Cheap way to say it's racial but then again it is in Dallas..

[couple of d's]

Wow. What a heartless prick.

[rocketballin]

This POS pig will have to live with this his entire life. I have almost no respect for law inforcement. Theyre there when you dont need them and never there when you really do. I hope karma catches up to this stupid ass pig.

[jopatmc]

I got a ticket Monday for doing 73 in a 65. Two young cops. Probably just out of school. There is a certain breed that these guys fall into. It doesn't matter whether they are black or white or whether you are black or white. I happen to be white and both officers were white boys. It was utterly ridiculous. I told the guy I had my cruise set on 70. I had literally passed the 65 sign when his lights went on. Both guys must have been about 22 years old. And you could tell they wanted to tussle. I hate that attitude. And I am white. I've got the same crap from white officers and black officers.

It's really not a black white thing. It's a power thing. These young kids running around with a badge and a gun, a lot of them came from violent backgrounds, divorced parents, etc. And then they get a badge and a gun and they think they are something. They do not know a good citizen from a poor one. And they are wanting to run into the poor ones instead of protect the good ones. It's messed up.

Just further evidence this country is going down the drain. What do you think martial law is going to be like if it comes to that?

[aboinamedray]

What do you think martial law is going to be like if it comes to that?
http://profile.ak.facebook.com/object3/417/113/l11330814225_3715.jpg

[moestavern19]

Where's WWR to come and tell us how this asshole did a great job?


T_J is doing just fine filling in for him in the Hangout version of this thread. :rolleyes:

[Pete Chilcutt]

Damn cops...they are pricks...racial profiling

[DonnyMost]

Was it necessary to put this in? Cheap way to say it's racial but then again it is in Dallas..

In the first sentence? No.

Later on the in the story, since the Moats felt it might have been racially motivated, it would be appropriate.

[Castor27]

has been reassigned to the dispatch division pending an investigation.




Anybody else get a mental picture of this guy when they read this part?


http://www.sandwichstate.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/farva.jpg

[nWo34Life]

Unedited Dash Video of the Harrassment (http://www.dallasnews.com/video/index.html?nvid=345818)

[ccada]

Anybody else get a mental picture of this guy when they read this part?


http://www.sandwichstate.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/farva.jpg

I want a liter of cola . .

[Lil Pun]

Was it necessary to put this in? Cheap way to say it's racial but then again it is in Dallas..


I was thinking the same thing. I don't think race needed to be brought up.

[bobrek]

I got a ticket Monday for doing 73 in a 65.....I told the guy I had my cruise set on 70....

So is there a difference in ticket cost or insurance rates for breaking the law by 5 MPH or 8 MPH?

[Lil Pun]

In the first sentence? No.

Later on the in the story, since the Moats felt it might have been racially motivated, it would be appropriate.



Oops! Didn't notice that.

[ccada]

Oops! Didn't notice that.

I grew up in Plano. The cops are jerks.

[mrpaige]

I grew up in Plano. The cops are jerks.

This was a Dallas cop, though.

[ccada]

This was a Dallas cop, though.

Oh, whoops. Good thing he taped it though. What a moron.

[Surfguy]

Seriously, is this really that big of a surprise? People who become cops enjoy their power to push people around. We've all seen it. I've personally seen it.

Most cops have serious ego trips you have to contend with in any situation.

I knew this stupid new Dallas law about towing cars with drivers unable to furnish proof of insurance would cause problems. Most of those violations are people who have insurance but forgot to update their insurance card in their car. It's happened to me. You get the insurance packet in the mail, get distracted, and next thing you know you are filing your insurance paperwork away but forgot to cut out the insurance cards. But, now Dallas wants to tow your car if you get pulled over. It's stupid...especially when you can get a insurance person on the phone to do a phone verification.

I think this cop should be fired personally. Oh...he was just doing his job. What kind of job is that if he lacks common sense and is on a power trip about towing someone's car over a beef about insurance when your in a hospital parking lot trying to see your dying mother or mother-in-law? He just made the situation ten times worse...and another cop was even asking him to back off.

I will say that not all cops are like this I'm sure...but I've gotten lip and lies from cops when I was being pulled over before. One time...I couldn't find an acceptable place to pull over even though the cop was behind me with his lights on. I was worried about the cop's safety if I pulled over on a busy rush hour road blocking traffic in very bad weather at the time. So, I drove slowly and a little further to pull off into a parking lot and off the main road. I got a bunch of lip from him and his chick partner. They bitched me out for not pulling over right away when it was obvious what I was trying to do. I told the guy "I was looking for a safe place to pull over out of concern for your safety". But, as soon as I parked, he came running up screaming at me like I was trying to get away or something. They even threw in an extra moving violation over it. That's why I hate them...cause their on power trips to the point that they treat civilians like crap...especially when they pull you over. They want respect...they got to show respect.

[deadlybulb]

The worst part is, this kind of thing happens ALL THE TIME. The only reason we're hearing about it in this story is because it's an NFL player.

I really hate cops. And that's an understatement. I'd get banned if I typed out how I really feel about them.

Ok, watched the video, and I'm even more perturbed. This powell guy is such a typical cop it's not even funny. What a douchebag idiot!!!! I'm so worked up right now! I HATE COPS!!!!

[updawg]

the fact that he immediately discounted the emergency scenerio in an emergency room parking is amazing. What would he do if one of the passengers had a medical condition? Stop having a heart attack until I write this citation.

if that cop had good intentions and thought he was doing his jobproperly than he is too stupid to handle a job that requires judgement and and varying reactions to unique situations and should be fired before something worse happens

-or-

he is a power hungry jackass who should be fired for having no idea how to react to a situation like that and threatened to trump up charges.

Probably a little of both.

The second cop should be written up as well, he could have helped a little more.

[mrpaige]

The second cop should be written up as well, he could have helped a little more.

I'm not sure how he could have helped. He was dealing with an officer from a different department. Other than talking to him some more (and probably ending up causing the officer to take even more time to write the ticket), I don't know what he could've done.

[sjackson0]

I don't know if it was racial motivated or not....Since the Moats family believe so, I'll take their word because they experienced it. To me....seems like a young d!ck head officer abusing his power.........again. These new officers truly forget that they WORK for citizens; to serve and protect. They get a badge and gun and go buck wild.

This was a terrible....my prayers go out to that family. I wouldn't wish this on a ememy....could only imagine what Ryan and the grandfather was going through at the time.

I'm black and been very fortunate when it has come to law enforcement and racial issues. I've been pulled over quite a bit and dealt with a lot of pricks and most of the those pricks were BLACK lol (I hate highway patrol). I support the police and the job they have to do, but the new breed of officers are a joke....complete joke

[updawg]

I'm not sure how he could have helped. He was dealing with an officer from a different department. Other than talking to him some more (and probably ending up causing the officer to take even more time to write the ticket), I don't know what he could've done.
didn't realize they were different depts. thought maybe they worked together a lot

[plee]

I'm not going to defend this guy because all he had to do was to step into the hospital to determine the situation. But, when you deal with all the a*h*s out there all the time you can help but treat everybody the same way and the normal citizen may get in the crossfire like this. If you want to see the abuse of power or power hungry, go to the courthouse, those guys are worse. Remember these guys do put their life on the line (see Oakland police) .

[JeopardE]

What a despicable human being. I hope he loses his job.

[msn]

Unedited Dash Video of the Harrassment (http://www.dallasnews.com/video/index.html?nvid=345818)
If I saw it correctly, the cop turned right from the main lanes of traffic and across a clearly marked right turn lane. :D

[Bag0b0y]

I know Moat's sister-in-law and she just emailed me saying that they just finished going to the funeral service and said that the family is having to relive it through the news.

Cop is going to get what he deserves and exchange his badge for an orange apron at Home Depot. Probably doesn't deserve working there either.

[Mac#5]

heres a LINK (http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/032609dnmetcopstop.3e9c080.html?nTar=OPUR) to the video of the trafic stop

[Precision340]

Wow.

She died while he was talking to that prick?

He ran a red light, with his emergency lights on, and pulled into an emergency room parking lot.

How stupid can that cop be?
that cop had no compassion at all for what that family was going through.. another reason to hate living in Dallas

[Smokey]

The cop should be terminated asap.

[ROXRAN]

This is very aggravating because it could have happened to any of us. What an As#h0le cop!...No common sense, empathy, or discretion whatsoever...Moats showed a lot of restraint to this emotional conflict (Better than I could have.)...I am sorry for his loss and his family...

[Refman]

The Dallas PD website states that the department shares our disappointment and outrage regarding the actions of Officer Powell.

If that is anything other than lip service, they will hand him his walking papers.

[mrpaige]

The Dallas PD website states that the department shares our disappointment and outrage regarding the actions of Officer Powell.

If that is anything other than lip service, they will hand him his walking papers.

According to Chief Kunkle, the DPD has started the process to "terminate" Powell. Presumably they mean "fire", but maybe they've got something involving Arnold Schwartzenegger in mind.

[meh]

I'm not going to defend this guy because all he had to do was to step into the hospital to determine the situation. But, when you deal with all the a*h*s out there all the time you can help but treat everybody the same way and the normal citizen may get in the crossfire like this. If you want to see the abuse of power or power hungry, go to the courthouse, those guys are worse. Remember these guys do put their life on the line (see Oakland police) .

I can understand this, so generally I'm fairly tolerant of officers even if they do seem like assholes to me. But at the very least this officer could've apologized afterwards to the family. It's one thing to get caught up in the heat of the moment. But quite different when afterwards you still feel like you "did the right thing". When you're obviously in the wrong.

The fact that he still feels that he made the right decision shows just how much of a dick he is. Or that he's not capable of good decision-making.

[DaDakota]

Remember these guys do put their life on the line (see Oakland police) .

Yes they do and it is their choice...find another job if they don't like it.

No sympathy from me.

DD

[Ottomaton]

source (http://views.washingtonpost.com/theleague/nflnewsfeed/2009/04/police-officer-in-moats-case-resigns.html)


Police Officer in Moats Case Resigns

The Dallas police officer who kept NFL running back Ryan Moats from seeing his dying mother-in-law reportedly has resigned.

The officer, Robert Powell, resigned today, his attorney told the Associated Press.

Powell had been placed on paid administrative leave following the incident, in which Powell lectured Moats, threatened to arrest him and ticketed him in a hospital parking lot after Moats's vehicle went through a red light en route to the hospital. Moats tried to explain to Powell that his mother-in-law was near death but, after being delayed approximately 13 minutes by Powell, Moats did not arrive at her bedside until after she'd died.

Dallas police officials had issued apologies and had said that Powell acted improperly during the traffic stop.

Moats and his wife said during a nationally televised interview this week that Powell had pointed his gun at Moats's wife, Tamishia, during the incident. Powell reportedly had told his superiors that he'd drawn his gun but hadn't pointed it. The Moatses said they would accept Powell's apology.

The Dallas Morning News had called for Powell's dismissal in an editorial.

According to the Morning News, Powell issued a written statement today through his attorneys.

"With a heavy heart and great sadness, I resigned from the Dallas Police Department this morning," Powell said in the written statement, according to the Morning News. "I made this decision in the hope that my resignation will allow the Dallas Police Department, my fellow officers, and the citizens of Dallas to better reflect on this experience, learn from the mistakes made, and move forward."

Powell indicated he still hoped to speak to the Moats family to apologize directly, and he apologized to fellow officers.

"I have sincere respect and admiration for the men and women of the Dallas Police Department and the work they perform daily," Powell said in his written statement, according to the Morning News, "and I wish them well."

Powell had apologized to the Moats family in the form of a previous written statement. Tamishia Moats said during an appearance Monday on ABC's "Good Morning America" that she hoped to hear directly from Powell.

Powell said during an interview with a Dallas television station this week that he'd handled the situation improperly and regretted his actions. He said during the TV interview that he feared being fired because of the incident.

[Smokey]

He should resign. A police officer is a position of trust. In their time of need, people turn to police for help. Instead of compassion, the guy was a d!ck.

To quote the Donald, "You're fired!"

PS I bet by resigning the guy has a better chance of landing another cop job.

[ubigred]

He should resign. A police officer is a position of trust. In their time of need, people turn to police for help. Instead of compassion, the guy was a d!ck.

To quote the Donald, "You're fired!"

PS I bet by resigning the guy has a better chance of landing another cop job.


HPD? I wouldn't be surprised.