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Title: Dallas officer delayed NFL player as relative died
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URL Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?sl ... ayer-stopped&prov=ap&type=lgns
Published: Mar 26, 2009
Author: SCHUYLER DIXON
Post Date: 2009-03-26 21:24:07 by Jethro Tull
Keywords: None
Views: 102
Comments: 7
Dallas officer delayed NFL player as relative died By SCHUYLER DIXON, Associated Press Writer 3 hours, 27 minutes ago Buzz up!310 votes PrintDALLAS (AP)—A police officer was placed on administrative leave Thursday over a traffic stop involving an NFL player whom he kept in a hospital parking lot and threatened to arrest while his mother-in-law died inside the building. Officer Robert Powell also drew his gun during the March 18 incident involving Houston Texans running back Ryan Moats in the Dallas suburb of Plano, police said. “I can screw you over,” he said at one point in the videotaped incident. When another officer came with word that Moats’ mother-in-law was indeed dying, Powell’s response was: “All right. I’m almost done.” Dallas Police Chief David Kunkle apologized to the family and announced that Powell would be on paid leave pending an internal investigation. ADVERTISEMENT “When we at the command staff reviewed the tape, we were embarrassed, disappointed,” Kunkle said. “It’s hard to find the right word and still be professional in my role as the police chief. But the behavior was not appropriate.” Powell, 25, a three-year member of the force, stopped Moats’ SUV outside Baylor Regional Medical Center at Plano after Moats rolled through a red light. Police officials said Powell told his commanders he believed he was doing his job, and that he drew his gun but did not point it. Kunkle said Powell was not necessarily acting improperly when he pulled his weapon out, but that once he realized what was happening should have put the gun back, apologized and offered to help the family in any way. “His behavior, in my opinion, did not exhibit the common sense, the discretion, the compassion that we expect our officers to exhibit,” Kunkle said. Moats’ wife, who was in the car along with other relatives, said Powell pointed his weapon at her. “He was pointing a gun at me as soon as I got out of the car,” Tamishia Moats told The Dallas Morning News. The Moats family did not immediately return messages left by The Associated Press. Powell did not respond to requests for comment through the Dallas police union. 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. He ordered Tamishia Moats, 27, to get back in the SUV, but after pausing for a few seconds, she and another woman rushed into the hospital. She was by the side of her mother, 45-year-old Jonetta Collinsworth, when she died a short time later from breast cancer. “Get in there,” said Powell, yelling at Tamishia Moats as she exited the vehicle. “Let me see your hands!” “Excuse me, my mom is dying,” Tamishia Moats said. “Do you understand?” Ryan Moats explained that he waited until there was no traffic before proceeding through the red light. When Powell asked for proof of insurance, Moats grew more agitated and told the officer to go find it. “My mother-in-law is dying! Right now! You’re wasting my time!” Moats yelled. “I don’t understand why you can’t understand that.” As they argued, the officer got irritated. “Shut your mouth,” the officer said. “You can either settle down and cooperate or I can just take you to jail for running a red light.” By the time the 26-year-old NFL player received a ticket and a lecture from Powell, about 13 minutes had passed. When he and Collinsworth’s father entered the hospital, they learned Collinsworth was dead. Kunkle said the video showed that Moats and his wife “exercised extraordinary patience, restraint in dealing with the behavior of our officer.” “At no time did Mr. Moats identify himself as an NFL football player or expect any kind of special consideration,” Kunkle said. “He handled himself very, very well.” The Moats family, who are black, said they can’t help but think that race might have played a part in the white officer’s behavior. “I think he should lose his job,” Ryan Moats said. When the exchange was at its most contentious, Powell said he could tow Moats’ SUV if he didn’t have insurance and that he could arrest him for fleeing because he didn’t immediately stop when Powell turned on his sirens. The pursuit lasted a little more than a minute. “I can screw you over,” Powell said. “I’d rather not do that. Your attitude will dictate everything that happens.” The ticket issued to Moats was dismissed, Dallas police spokesman Lt. Andy Harvey said. Texans spokesman Kevin Cooper said the team had no comment. Moats, a third-round draft choice of the Philadelphia Eagles in 2005 out of Louisiana Tech, was cut by the Eagles in August and later signed with the Texans. In three seasons as a backup, he’s rushed for 441 yards and scored four touchdowns. He was a standout at Bishop Lynch High School, a private school in Dallas, rushing for more than 2,600 yards and 33 touchdowns as a senior.
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#1. To: Jethro Tull (#0)
The cop should be fired and never allowed to be a police officer anyway. For that matter, 90% of police officers should be fired and all citizens required to carry a gun.
I'm for that as long as I can shoot offenders of any color and not be in fear of the leftist legal system.
Shotgun, shoot him right down now.
Couldn't be that he is just a jerk cop, no it had to be about race. (eye rolling smilie)
A nation based on race has to keep other races out. A government dedicated to a proposition has to keep ideas out. I'll be honest with all that has been going on I'm surprised he didn't get tased. I remember when I was young. Cops were friendly and helpful. I would be afraid to even approach one today. Except the few I know personally. I know what they are made of.
"What country can preserve its liberties if its rulers are not warned from time to time that its people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms....The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants." Thomas Jefferson
That will have to be in the New America. The 'roos along with the system need a fresh start. ;-)
No place is better than Turtle Island.
#2. To: Turtle (#1)
For that matter, 90% of police officers should be fired and all citizens required to carry a gun
#3. To: Jethro Tull (#0)
I've already said too much.
#4. To: Jethro Tull (#0)
The Moats family, who are black, said they can’t help but think that race might have played a part in the white officer’s behavior.
"Controlling carbon is a bureaucrat's dream. If you control carbon, you control life." — Dr. Richard Lindzen, MIT Professor of Meteorology
#5. To: Jethro Tull (#0)
The 'inner Jew': Tyler Durden with a yarmulka.
#6. To: Jethro Tull (#0)
#7. To: Jethro Tull (#2)
and not be in fear of the leftist legal system
"If you love wealth more than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, depart from us in peace. We ask not your counsel nor your arms. Crouch down and lick the hand that feeds you. May your chains rest lightly upon you and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen.”—Samuel Adams 
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