A scuffle between two highway patrol officers and an EMT was
captured on video after the police pulled over an ambulance
on route to the hospital with a patient on board.
The incident occurred on Highway 62 near Boley
in Okfuskee County, Oklahoma.
The video begins with the patient's son, Mr Kenyada
Davis, explaining "Highway Patrol have pulled my mom's
ambulance over because he's mad we didn't pull over."
The troopers were responding to a call of their
own and were evidently annoyed that the ambulance did not yield
and give way to them on the road.
"He's trying to arrest the EMT taking my
mother to the hospital." Davis explains.
The video then shows one of the troopers pointing
at the paramedic and yelling "You are under arrest, you
are under arrest".
As the patient begins to scream inside the ambulance,
the EMT, Mr Maurice White, Jr., tries to explain that he is
trying to get to the hospital.
As he raises a hand in gesture, one of the troopers
is seen to grab Mr White in an attempt to put him in an arm
lock and cuff him. Mr White resists and a scuffle breaks out.
Mr White attempts to get back into the ambulance, at which point
the trooper grabs him by the throat.
"I'm going to the hospital." Mr White
again says, while Mr Davis pleads "he's a doctor".
The troopers then relent and return to their
vehicle.
Watch the video below:
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Mr White has given
a statement in which he explains how he told the
trooper he had a patient in the ambulance and that they were
on their way to the hospital.
"He ignored my statement, became even more
belligerent, and demanded my partner come to his patrol car
so he could write him a ticket," White says. "I calmly
told the officer that we were transporting a patient and we
could continue this at the hospital."
White also writes that the trooper told him they
could continue on to the hospital, but that he would be under
arrest once they arrived. White was not arrested, but states
that the troopers told him he should be prepared to turn himself
in if a warrant was issued.
Paul Franks, the driver of the ambulance, has
also provided a written
statement.
According to reports,
the troopers have claimed that the paramedic assaulted one of
them before the camera started rolling.
The district attorney in Okfuskee County is expected to take
a look at the video and may file charges against Maurice White
as soon as this week.
The Oklahoma Highway Patrol have refused to comment on the
video while it is still under review.
Thankfully the patient was treated at the hospital and was
released later the same day.
A scuffle between two highway patrol officers and an EMT was
captured on video after the police pulled over an ambulance
on route to the hospital with a patient on board.
