Thursday, June 4, 2009

Oklahoma HP fight with EMT

Hard to make out the sound in the video, yet another instance of tempers getting the best of the HP and the EMT. Who does have the right of way in this instance. Better to give way, but no call for the Trooper to make an issue out of this.

NEW INFO 5/30: Troopers now officially identified by OHP & Paramedic White provides further details in comment to TV station website 

Read statements from the patient & witnesses, plus information on Oklahoma law

See how police are reacting to the video

Read reports written by Critical Care Paramedic Maurice White Jr. and EMT-B Paul Franks

Watch the latest story from KWTV-TV

Read the latest story from KWTV-TV

Read paper by Maurice White Jr. on the state of EMS in Oklahoma

Watch the original story from KWTV-TV including interview with witnesses

Read orginial story from KWTV-TV

Some comments from Chief Billy Goldfeder in The Secret List (including Billy's video response to the incident)

This incident happened Sunday on Highway 62 near Paden, Oklahoma. A trooper with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol pulled over a Creek Nation ambulance as it was heading to the hospital with a patient. TV station KWTV-TV broke this story. KWTV-TV's Dave Jordan reports there is also dash cam video that apparently includes the alleged assault by the paramedic. That video has not been released.

STATter911.com has been in contact with the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Health System, the operators of the ambulance. Spokesman Thompson Gouge would only say the matter is under investigation, but on Wednesday evening Gouge passed along the statements of Critical Care Paramedic Maurice White Jr, who was treating the patient, and EMT-B Paul Franks, who was driving the unit. Click the link above to read their accounts of the incident.

Some details earlier today from our sister station WFMY-TV's website:

A scuffle between first responders in Oklahoma is caught on tape.
Highway Patrol troopers and a paramedic nearly come to blows while a patient waits to be taken to the hospital. The encounter was caught on a cell phone came by Kenyada Davis, the son of the patient in the ambulance.

The incident started when the ambulance failed to yield to state troopers en route to a call. Davis say the ambulance driver was trying to avoid hitting a car that slowed down and wasn't aware that troopers were nearby until it was too late.
After the troopers finished their official business, they pulled the ambulance over. A struggle ensued as they tried to arrest the driver.
According to Oklahoma Highway Patrol, the paramedics assaulted the trooper just before the fight broke out.
The Okfuskee County District Attorney's office is reviewing footage and could file criminal charges against the paramedic by the end of the week.

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