Dallas cop keeps NFL player from being with dying mother-in-law
Mrs. Moats and another passenger disregard Officer Powell's orders and go in to see her dying mother
If you haven’t heard this one yet, it’ll eat at you. WFAA News 8 out in Dallas released the story of the events from last night. You can read the full article on News 8 or watch the news segment here.
Ryan Moats – running back for the Houston Texans – and his wife were on their way to the hospital to be at the bedside of his mother-in-law for her dying moments. On the way there, he ran through a red light near the hospital. Dallas Police Officer Robert Powell spotted them, and pulled them over in the ER parking lot. That’s where things go bad. Anyone with a heart would’ve allowed him to see her, right? Absolutely not for Officer Powell. He reportedly pulled his pistol on them after he got out of his car, for whatever reason I do not know. They pleaded with him to let them go see her, but he refuses. His wife and the other woman in the car ignored his order and went in.
Moats couldn’t find his insurance card, and officer was threatening to tow his car, even to haul him off to jail. Nurses tried to convince the officer to let him go see her. It finally took pleading from another officer to let him go in. By the time he got to go in and see her, she had just died.
For no real reason but to be an arrogant jerk, Officer Powell took away an important moment from Ryan Moats life. The Dallas PD has dropped the ticket, and has issued a formal apology to Mr. Moats. During the news segment, the PD also stated that officers are expected to use appropriate discretion in certain matters, and that Officer Powell incorrectly handled this situation. They are investigating the situation and have placed him on leave.
Normally I wouldn’t say he deserves to get fired, but in this case, I believe it is the only option.
“My understanding is that Officer Powell — even after he saw the videotape — believed he had not acted inappropriately,” Chief Kunkle said, a view that was underscored by Assistant Chief Floyd Simpson, who reviewed the tape with Officer Powell on Wednesday.
“His belief was simply that he was doing his job,” Chief Simpson said. “It did concern me that it just seemed that the compassion was not there.”
I’m just glad to see that Moats has handled it well publicly, given what he dealt with. I’m also glad to see the Dallas PD not trying to defend those actions. I’m not saying they need to throw him under the bus; he did that for himself.
