The Oklahoma Highway Patrol said late Friday that it would release the dash camera video of a confrontation between paramedic Maurice White and Trooper Daniel Martin. The confrontation has made headlines since it was shot via cell phone video on May 24th.
FOX23 had filed an open records request to have the trooper's dash cam video released. That video was released late Friday night.
We do want to warn you that some of this dash cam video contains explicit language unfit for broadcast. FOX23 did not edit the dash cam video in any way.
The 8 and a half minute long video first shows the trooper's cruiser, running with sirens, coming up quickly behind the ambulance. The ambulance's driver does not immediately yield, passes a car on the shoulder, then begins to yield as the trooper passes and continues down the road. The clip continues with the trooper later confronting the paramadic, as family members of the woman in the ambulance repeatedly ask that she be taken to the hospital.
Trooper White has a press conference scheduled with his attorney on Monday in Oklahoma City.
OHP also released the following information Friday night.
on friday, june 12th, officials with the oklahoma department of public safety determined it was in the best interest of the public to release the “in-car-videotape” related to the may 24, 2009 trooper/emt incident near paden, ok.
this decision was made following the completion of the internal investigation into the incident, and its submittal for administrative review by oklahoma highway patrol command staff. following discussions with the trooper's attorney, dps officials determined that although the release of the tape was contrary to departmental practice, its release would not affect the administrative review or its outcome.
“we’ve been well aware of the fact that this incident has drawn enormous attention, but made the decision to protect the integrity of the investigation, any and all relevant evidence, as well as the rights of the department employees during the course of the investigation, as required by law” said ohp spokesman, captain chris west.
following a thorough and comprehensive review of the investigation, patrol administrators will make the determination of what, if any, administrative action may be appropriate.
