The rest of the story...in the case of the Trooper who stopped an ambulance with a patient on the way to the hospital

[Terminator]

OKLAHOMA CITY – Bothered that an ambulance driver failed to yield to him as he raced to provide backup on a call — and angered further when he thought the driver flipped him an obscene gesture — state Trooper Daniel Martin decided to stop the ambulance and give the driver a piece of his mind.
What Martin didn't know then, his lawyer said Monday, was that there was a patient in the back of the ambulance.
"He's not this ogre, this depriver of people's rights," the trooper's attorney, Gary James, said. "He's a good man."
Since a cell phone video of the dispute taken by the patient's son was released last month, Martin has faced criticism and has been placed on paid leave pending an investigation. The patient, Stella Davis of Boley, was eventually treated and released from the hospital, but relatives and others have questioned why the ambulance was stopped and pushed for answers.
After the trooper stopped the vehicle, a paramedic jumped from the back and demanded that Martin talk to him instead of the driver, according to a longer video, taken by the dashboard camera in Martin's cruiser, that authorities released over the weekend.
"You get back in the ambulance, I'm talking to the driver," Martin said.
"I'm in charge of this unit, sir," the paramedic tells Martin, an Iraq war veteran who returned from the Middle East about a month before the May 24 incident in Paden, 40 miles east of Oklahoma City.
Martin tells the driver he's going to give him a ticket for failure to yield.
"I ain't going to be putting up with that (expletive)," Martin said. "You understand me?"
Then the paramedic, Maurice White Jr., said: "And I won't put up with you talking to my driver like that."
The situation escalates, with White repeatedly telling Martin he has a patient that he wants to take to the hospital, and Martin telling him to get back in the ambulance. They soon begin scuffling on the side of the road as Martin attempts to arrest White, at one point grabbing him by the throat, video shows.
Martin's attorney said the trooper — whom he described as a decorated sailor and a 15-year law enforcement veteran — didn't realize there was a patient in the ambulance until well after the situation had intensified. He either didn't hear it or it didn't register, he said.
Martin was trying to make a legitimate traffic stop, James said, when White became hostile, refused to comply with the patrolman's orders and caused the situation to spiral out of control.
James said the law allows an officer to pull over an ambulance if its emergency lights and sirens aren't running, as was the case in this incident.
Thompson Gouge, spokesman for the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, which employs White as a paramedic, said the use of lights and sirens depends on the patient's medical situation. Sometimes the lights and sirens often won't be used when patients are transported to the hospital in order to keep them calm.
White's attorney, Richard O'Carroll, said the veteran paramedic was trying to protect his patient and that the trooper had no reason to stop the ambulance, let alone try and arrest White. The trooper's arms were bruised when White resisted arrest, James said.
"If the guy was bruised, it didn't make any difference," O'Carroll said. "He ought not to stop ambulance drivers for hurting his feelings."

[pgg]

Doesn't look good for that guy. SPD needs to chime in on this, he can shed some light on this guy.

[IndianaFuzz]

Though at least one thing...if the patient is really in enough need to get to the hospital as quick as possible, then the paramedic should worry about the patient, not the trooper. If the paramedic thinks the patient is fine enough to abandon to argue with someone, then the paramedic is thereby inadvertantly telling the trooper that the patient getting to the hospital isn't really that serious. I'm not saying the trooper should have pulled the ambulance over or anything ( I would rather either just drop it or handle the situation after the fact since he could find out who was driving), but it's another way to look at it. I think its a case of all parties involved, except for the patient/family being idiots.

[jmur5074]

In addition to that, if the patient was in such dire need to get to the hospital, why weren't they running lights and siren? To "keep the patient calm?" I can understand that for mental health transports, but if you're having a heart attack or some other medical malady, you're already not calm.

[CTR man]

Dash cam video from troopers car.

Video Page 2009 - NewsOn6.com - Tulsa, OK - News, Weather, Video and Sports - KOTV.com |

How does the trooper expect that ambulance to pull over in that short of time with a car in front of it driving erratically that he couldn't see until he was right up on them? That Ambulance has a greater stopping distance than a car. If that Ambulance were to pull behind that car he would have rolled over the top of it.

In my opinion, both parties were at fault. I think I remember reading somewhere that neither party was going to be charged in this incident but the trooper agreed to do some desk time-CTR


OHP Releases Trooper's Dash Cam Clip - NewsOn6.com - Tulsa, OK - News, Weather, Video and Sports - KOTV.com |

OHP Releases Trooper's Dash Cam Clip

By Dave Jordan, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- OHP released the dash cam footage of the trooper involved in a scuffle with a paramedic.

Officials with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol previously rejected any request for the footage, claiming the clip does is not included as part of the Open Records Request.

"Our practice is just not to do it," said Capt. Chris West. "Everybody has wanted this thing, so we're standing by our practice right now."

OHP previously told NEWS 9 paramedic Maurice White assaulted Trooper Daniel Martin after White's ambulance was pulled over ant that alleged assault was caught on OHP dash camera video.

Many people have seen the controversial trooper/paramedic fight video, which was caught on a video phone, including three of the four current gubernatorial candidates.

The next governor will oversee the Department of Public Safety, which is why some of the current candidates felt the video should have been released.

"I don't believe the law requires that they release it but, certainly someone who believes in transparency in government at all levels," Senator Brogdon said. "I think it would be a prudent thing to do."

Brogden is in agreement with his rivals for the state's top office on this one issue. Democrat Drew Edmondson and Republican Congresswoman Mary Fallin all wanted the dash cam video released. Lieutenant Governor Jari Askins had no comment.

In a statement, Fallin says she "personally contacted the Department of Public Safety to urge them to release the tape in question. Doing so, she believes, would further public safety and understanding."

Edmondson says the recording should be made available. "The district attorney in charge of the case has said as much, which indicates to me that there is no reason to keep it confidential as part of the investigation."

Senator Brogdon believes the release will also serve another purpose.

"I think it would be good to release it just so we could maybe put it to rest and hopefully it would quiet things down," Senator Brogdon said.

Trooper Martin's attorney is holding a press conference Monday. On Thursday, OHP completed its internal investigation into Trooper Martin's behavior, but the results of that investigation are not yet known.

Martin remains on paid administrative leave.

[CTR man]

Perhaps he thought he was still in Iraq where the servicemen will push the vehicles off the road if they don't get out of the way fast enough? (Going by a video that I have seen regarding travel in Iraq with the US Military)-CTR

I hope that they can all make some sense out of all this, but I don't think the trooper should be fired over this incident, but treat this as a learning experience.-CTR

OKLAHOMA CITY – Bothered that an ambulance driver failed to yield to him as he raced to provide backup on a call — and angered further when he thought the driver flipped him an obscene gesture — state Trooper Daniel Martin decided to stop the ambulance and give the driver a piece of his mind.

What Martin didn't know then, his lawyer said Monday, was that there was a patient in the back of the ambulance.

"He's not this ogre, this depriver of people's rights," the trooper's attorney, Gary James, said. "He's a good man."

Since a cell phone video of the dispute taken by the patient's son was released last month, Martin has faced criticism and has been placed on paid leave pending an investigation. The patient, Stella Davis of Boley, was eventually treated and released from the hospital, but relatives and others have questioned why the ambulance was stopped and pushed for answers.

After the trooper stopped the vehicle, a paramedic jumped from the back and demanded that Martin talk to him instead of the driver, according to a longer video, taken by the dashboard camera in Martin's cruiser, that authorities released over the weekend.

"You get back in the ambulance, I'm talking to the driver," Martin said.

"I'm in charge of this unit, sir," the paramedic tells Martin, an Iraq war veteran who returned from the Middle East about a month before the May 24 incident in Paden, 40 miles east of Oklahoma City.

Martin tells the driver he's going to give him a ticket for failure to yield.

"I ain't going to be putting up with that (expletive)," Martin said. "You understand me?"

Then the paramedic, Maurice White Jr., said: "And I won't put up with you talking to my driver like that."

The situation escalates, with White repeatedly telling Martin he has a patient that he wants to take to the hospital, and Martin telling him to get back in the ambulance. They soon begin scuffling on the side of the road as Martin attempts to arrest White, at one point grabbing him by the throat, video shows.

Martin's attorney said the trooper — whom he described as a decorated sailor and a 15-year law enforcement veteran — didn't realize there was a patient in the ambulance until well after the situation had intensified. He either didn't hear it or it didn't register, he said.

Martin was trying to make a legitimate traffic stop, James said, when White became hostile, refused to comply with the patrolman's orders and caused the situation to spiral out of control.

James said the law allows an officer to pull over an ambulance if its emergency lights and sirens aren't running, as was the case in this incident.

Thompson Gouge, spokesman for the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, which employs White as a paramedic, said the use of lights and sirens depends on the patient's medical situation. Sometimes the lights and sirens often won't be used when patients are transported to the hospital in order to keep them calm.

White's attorney, Richard O'Carroll, said the veteran paramedic was trying to protect his patient and that the trooper had no reason to stop the ambulance, let alone try and arrest White. The trooper's arms were bruised when White resisted arrest, James said.

"If the guy was bruised, it didn't make any difference," O'Carroll said. "He ought not to stop ambulance drivers for hurting his feelings."

[10-42Adam]

I have mixed feelings on this incident based solely on the videos I have watched regarding it. I do not believe the Trooper should be fired over this incident, however. Maybe both of them should be slapped on the wrist and call it a day...

[tapout]

he should have never pulled the ambulance over in the first place, but he DOES NOT deserve to be fired

[213th]

In addition to that, if the patient was in such dire need to get to the hospital, why weren't they running lights and siren? To "keep the patient calm?" I can understand that for mental health transports, but if you're having a heart attack or some other medical malady, you're already not calm.

When I was on an ambulance dept our policy for keeping the patient calm was to not use the siren unnecessarily. The lights however, stay on.

[SPD]

Dan the man . . . . he worked for us for many years. He was sort of a running joke at our department. Anything he touched turned to shit. He is famous for things like: propositioning a convenience store clerk with a banana held in front of his crotch - in uniform and on duty and he didn't know the clerk . . . . . coming into a parking lot hot after the Lt downgraded everyone, and almost hit the officers and suspects - luckily he swerved and drove into a car dealership building . . . . . . dumpster diving at a book store to retrieve porn mags while on duty and in full uniform . . . . . and being the only uniformed officer that i ever threatened with physical violence while on duty.

Dan is a dumb-ass. In fact, we more often than not simply referred to him as "dumb-ass.' He made up for his lack of prowess as a patrol officer with a very large ego and loud mouth.

Oh - and he was in the navy reserve. I don't want to take anything away from him for going over to the sandbox, but i'd be willing to bet he wasn't kicking doors in fallujah.

No - Dan was famous for doing really stupid shit, and frankly nobody thought he's make it through the OHP academy. Good on him for making it. But frankly he couldn't find the right decision if it slapped him in the face.

[sgtbear111]

Sounds like Trp Dan took those Buck Savage training videos too seriously.

[Shoestring]

So what are you saying, I just dont understand

Dan the man . . . . he worked for us for many years. He was sort of a running joke at our department. Anything he touched turned to shit. He is famous for things like: propositioning a convenience store clerk with a banana held in front of his crotch - in uniform and on duty and he didn't know the clerk . . . . . coming into a parking lot hot after the Lt downgraded everyone, and almost hit the officers and suspects - luckily he swerved and drove into a car dealership building . . . . . . dumpster diving at a book store to retrieve porn mags while on duty and in full uniform . . . . . and being the only uniformed officer that i ever threatened with physical violence while on duty.

Dan is a dumb-ass. In fact, we more often than not simply referred to him as "dumb-ass.' He made up for his lack of prowess as a patrol officer with a very large ego and loud mouth.

Oh - and he was in the navy reserve. I don't want to take anything away from him for going over to the sandbox, but i'd be willing to bet he wasn't kicking doors in fallujah.

No - Dan was famous for doing really stupid shit, and frankly nobody thought he's make it through the OHP academy. Good on him for making it. But frankly he couldn't find the right decision if it slapped him in the face.

[SPD]

So what are you saying, I just dont understand

I was being subtle, wasn't I. I need to learn to express myself better.

[tapout]

Dan the man . . . . he worked for us for many years. He was sort of a running joke at our department. Anything he touched turned to shit. He is famous for things like: propositioning a convenience store clerk with a banana held in front of his crotch - in uniform and on duty and he didn't know the clerk . . . . . coming into a parking lot hot after the Lt downgraded everyone, and almost hit the officers and suspects - luckily he swerved and drove into a car dealership building . . . . . . dumpster diving at a book store to retrieve porn mags while on duty and in full uniform . . . . . and being the only uniformed officer that i ever threatened with physical violence while on duty.

Dan is a dumb-ass. In fact, we more often than not simply referred to him as "dumb-ass.' He made up for his lack of prowess as a patrol officer with a very large ego and loud mouth.

Oh - and he was in the navy reserve. I don't want to take anything away from him for going over to the sandbox, but i'd be willing to bet he wasn't kicking doors in fallujah.

No - Dan was famous for doing really stupid shit, and frankly nobody thought he's make it through the OHP academy. Good on him for making it. But frankly he couldn't find the right decision if it slapped him in the face.

im not surprised, i kinda felt all this after seeing the video, and i dont know the guy from adam

so what did he do to make you threaten him? you have to tell now.

[TXCharlie]

The trooper appears to be one of those Type A personalities who starts down a path and will not deviate from that path no matter what, because he would view backing down as a defeat, even after receiving new information.

He would be the one guy I'd want to help me in a fight, but I sure wouldn't want to ride with him every day - I've had my fill of people like that.

I don't think adjusting my approach as new information comes to light is "being soft" or "loosing command control". Even the military adjusts its war plans based on new information. I just think it's dumb to set out on a path then turn on the autopilot.

[Big Al]

The trooper should not have stopped the ambulance. He was only delayed a second or so prior to getting around the ambulance and the car on the shoulder. If it were such an extreme emergency then why did the trooper not stay at the scene where was running hot to??? I see this often, officers running lights and sirens, arriving on scene, then do absolutely nothing. WTF?

To me he has the attitude the "I am a State Trooper, How dare you". BFD. I have been a trooper for over 20years and a supervisor for almost 11 years. I would not tolerate his actions. I wouldn't fire him for it, unless he has a history of ascendiing discipline and this incident could push him out the door.

[SPD]

so what did he do to make you threaten him? you have to tell now.

No i certainly do not. Anyway - it's probably better to let your imagination run wild. Probably more exciting that way.

I don't think dan will be fired quite frankly. And he wasn't superman in a fight, BTW. Most of his discipline problems were with our agency, and I imagine he hasn't had time to screw too many pooches with the troop yet. But he need to drink a big old can of simmer down. And he needs to think just a little before he acts. Might do him some good.

[Buttercup]

Oklahoma Trooper Suspended for fight with paramedic



STROUD, Okla. – An Oklahoma Highway Patrol trooper caught on video cussing and fighting with the driver of an ambulance carrying a patient has been suspended for five days.


A patrol spokesman said Trooper Daniel Martin was put on unpaid suspension Wednesday and must undergo an anger assessment.


A cell phone video of the May 24 scuffle that was widely distributed over the Internet shows Martin grabbing the paramedic, Maurice White Jr., in a choke hold around the neck.


Martin's dashboard-mounted camera showed him stopping the ambulance, cussing and accusing White of failing to yield. He also threatened to arrest him.
White's attorney said Wednesday that White was disappointed by the suspension. Martin's attorney, Gary James, did not return a message seeking comment.


-AP

[Captain America]

No comment from the president so for...... I guess this wasn't a case of profiling since the paramedic was a White.