UPDATE: Oklahoma troopers officially identified. Medic seen being choked tells more in a comment posted on a website. Read Maurice White’s response.
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June 16 update: Paramedic White says Trooper Martin should have badge and gun taken away
More STATter911.com coverage: Trooper’s lawyer says medic is danger to the community; Dash cam video released; Fox News interviews EMS crew & Trooper Martin; Trooper on administrative leave; No charges filed by DA; EMT-B Paul Franks speaks out; Read statements from Toopers Martin & Iker; Troopers identified; Statements from witnesses and the patient; Reaction from police officers; Statements from EMS crew.
Tulsa World’s Manny Gamallo, like other reporters, has been making requests of the Oklahoma Highway Patrol though the state’s Open Records Act. Originally OHP refused to divulge the names of the troopers involved in last Sunday’s incident claiming confidentiality while internal affairs investigators reviewed the case. On Friday OHP Capt. Chris West responded to Gamallo’s request and officially identified the troopers as Daniel Martin and Bryan Iker.
Here are excerpts from Gamallo’s latest story:
Still unresolved is the release of incident reports the troopers may have written after their encounter with Creek Nation paramedics at Paden, located east of Prague, in Okfuskee County.
West said he was unsure whether the troopers wrote incident reports on the encounter, but noted he would check and then consult with the OHP’s lawyers to determine if they can be released.
The OHP has turned over details of the incident to the prosecutor in Okfuskee County to determine if charges will be filed in the case.
Assistant District Attorney Maxey Reilly said Friday it may be next week before she decides what charges, if any, will be filed. She did note, though, that the interference with paramedics in the performance of their duties is against the law in Oklahoma.
But Reilly would not say if the troopers would be charged with that violation.
Meanwhile, news accounts about the scuffle have generated headlines around the world. In fact, Reilly noted, video film shot during the scuffle is now the No. 2 most-watched video on YouTube. (Note: As of 5:30 AM EDT on Saturday the video above, posted by sustainablehome, had more than 600,000 views and almost 6,000 comments.)
Maurice White Jr. is the 30-year EMS veteran whose face has been seen around the world in the video with Trooper Martin’s hand around White’s neck. The paramedic was part of a two-person ambulance crew from Creek Nation stopped by the trooper on Sunday.
Paramedic White and his partner, EMT-B Paul Franks, provided detailed written statements about the incident. Now White has given a few additional thoughts in a comment posted to a forum on KTUL-TV’s website. The station verified the comments are from White.
The medic was responding to the comment below posted on Thursday evening:
CowboyXXX wrote: 1st off what respectable Paramedic would get abandon his patient in the back of the ambulance to argue with an officer that was gonna ticket this partner. One key thing is if you have a bad patient in the back of your truck you will run lights and sirens. 2nd if an officer is gonna ticket you take the ticket and argue it in a court of law.
Here is Critical Care Paramedic Maurice White Jr’s response to CowboyXXX submitted early Friday morning:
Hi,
I do not plan to respond to any comments other that this one. Healthy skepticism is a good thing. My employer has released the statements produced by me and my partner. Our statements may be false, but please at least read them since this station was so kind as to post them in their entirety. Next, I know that it is difficult to remain objective when dealing with emotionally charged issues. I assure you that time and the trooper’s dash cam will clarify everything.
To the person quoted above, if you will read the statement you will note that it was the fact that the trooper was approached at such a high rate of speed, and driving so erratically, I assumed that the woman in the front seat of the cruiser dressed in civilian clothing needed immediate help. That is why I initially stepped from the rear of the unit.
Also please note that in most cases, only the most critical patients are transported with lights and sirens. In addition, I do not have the option to run lights only. Please do a little research on the affects of running code one with a cardiac patient. Btw, if you read the report, you will find that the patient had an episode of syncope followed by chest pain with hypertension. This was not heat related as has been stated elsewhere.
I assure you, the last thing I could ever be convicted, or accused of is poor or negligent patient care. EVEN MY MOST ARDENT DETRACTORS WOULD NEVER ACUSE ME OF THAT SIN. I am well known for the quality of patient care that I render!
Please forgive if this comes off as bragging. I can remain calm while being chocked; I do not tolerate aspersions cased upon the quality care I give on a daily basis. I have served as an active, field medic for thirty-one years; twenty-six years at the paramedic level. I have never had a patient complaint! Can you match that sir?
Thank you,
Grace and Peace
Maurice White, Jr.
Critical Care Paramedic
