Officer Robert Powell has made a public apology regarding his actions when he pulled over Houston Texans running back Ryan Moats who rolled through a red light as he was rushing to the hospital bed of his dying mother-in-law. Moats’ wife and other family members were also in the vehicle, when he was pulled over outside of the hospital.
When Tamishia Moats (Moats’ wife) exits the vehicle, the 26-year-old Officer Powell can be heard to say, “Get in there,” more than once before shouting, “Let me see your hands.”
To which Tamishia Moats replied, “Excuse me, my mom is dying, do you understand?” Apparently Powell didn’t, however she and another relative proceeded into the hospital anyway.
Initially, Moats can be heard to be polite and respectful to Officer Powell, but when asked for proof of insurance, he can be heard to say to the officer, “go find it.” This seemed to agitate Powell who threatened Moats with jail or having his car impounded, followed by a patronizing diatribe about attitude that lasted for approximately 13 minutes. By the time Moats and his father-in-law entered the hospital 45-year-old Jonetta Collinsworth had died from breast cancer.
Powell’s statement reads:
I wish to publicly and sincerely apologize to the Moats family, my colleagues in the Dallas Police Department, and to all those who have been rightfully angered by my actions on March 18, 2009. After stopping Mr. Moats’ vehicle, I showed poor judgment and insensitivity to Mr. Moats and his family by my words and actions. Again, I am very sorry for what I did and ask for the forgiveness of all those touched by these unfortunate events.
Embedding of the RAW footage is disabled at YouTube but you can see part one here and part two here. Officer Powell is now on administrative leave.
