Texans running back Ryan Moats recently was involved in a disturbing incident with a Dallas police officer, and the situation sufficiently disturbed the officers superiors to result in a temporary reassignment, pending a full investigation.
According to the Dallas Morning News, Moats drove with his wife, her grandfather, and her great-aunt to Baylor Regional Medical Center, where Moats mother-in-law was dying of breast cancer at age 45.
Moats drove with the hazard lights on, and at one point he went through a red light. Robert Powell, a 25-year-old officer, followed Moats until he parked outside the hospitals emergency room.
The ensuing confrontation was memorialized via a dashboard camera. It went a little something like this.
Just give me a ticket or whatever, Moats said.
Shut your mouth, Powell said. You can cooperate and settle down, or I can just take you to jail for running a red light.
If youre going to give me a ticket, give me a ticket.
Your attitude says that you need one.
All Im asking you is just to hurry up.
If you want to keep this going, Ill just put you in handcuffs, and Ill take you to jail for running a red light. . . . Understand what I can do. I can tow your truck. I can charge you with fleeing. I can make your night very difficult.
Thirteen minutes after Moats arrived, the officer finally let him enter the facility. In the interim, hospital security guards and a Plano police officer explained to Powell that Moats mother-in-law truly was dying inside the hospital.
By the time Moats and his mother-in-laws father had gotten inside the hospital, Moats mother-in-law had died.
Moats and his wife, who are black, believe that Powell, who is white, might have been motivated by the racial differences. Either way, Moats thinks Powell should be fired.
Dallas police are investigating.
When people are in distress, we should come to the rescue, Assistant Chief Floyd Simpson told the Dallas Morning News. We shouldnt further their distress.
Wow.
We didnt think there was anyone less fit than Plaxico Burress to carry a weapon. Robert Powell just might have Burress beat.
UPDATE: Heres a link to the video.Link to the Video