Paramedic Discusses Trooper Quarrel on CBS Early Show

The Creek Nation paramedic involved in a scuffle with an Oklahoma Highway Patrol trooper was interviewed Tuesday morning on the CBS Early Show. 

Tuesday, June 16th 2009, 9:49 am

By: News 9


News9.com

OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma --The Creek Nation paramedic involved in a scuffle with an Oklahoma Highway Patrol trooper was interviewed Tuesday morning on the CBS Early Show. 

Paramedic Maurice White and his attorney Richard O'Carroll answered questions about the incident. 

White said he'd like to see the OHP force trooper Daniel Martin to turn in his gun and his badge.

Read the transcript of the interview:

MAGGIE: WHY WEREN'T YOU FLASHING THE LIGHTS AND SIRENS?

07:17:18-35

MW: IT'S BEEN MISREPORTED THAT THE PATIENT WAS SUFFERING FROM HEAT EXHAUSTION, BUT THE PATIENT ACTUALLY HAD A FAINTING EPISODE WITH CHEST PAIN. AND IT'S COMMEN PRACTICE NOT TO RUN LIGHTS AND SIRENS WITH THOSE TYPE PATIENTS. IT REALLY EXASPERATES THEIR SITUATION.

MAGGIE: SO IF IT WASN'T INCREDIBLY URGENT... ONCE THE AMBULENCE FINALLY DID PULL OVER AND THE TROOPER APPROACHED, WHY DIDN'T YOU JUST LET HIM GO SPEAK WITH THE DRIVER WHICH IS WHO HE WANTED TO SPEAK WITH.... WHY DID YOU GET INVOLVED?

07:17:54-07:18:14

MW: WELL BASICALLY I EXITED THE UNIT THINKING THAT THE DRIVER B/C OF HIS ACTIONS THE UMM, OHP OFFICER AND HAD AN EMERGENCY. BUT ONCE CONFRONTED WITH THE SITUATION THERE WAS NO WAY WITH THE PATIENT IN THE UNIT COULD I ALLOW MY DRIVER TO SPEND 20 MINUTES WITH THE TROOPER DISCUSSING THE POSSIBLE TICKET.

MAGGIE: WE SEE YOU RELATIVELY CALM WHEN YOU FIRST START TO SPEAK WITH THE TROOPER BUT HE IS VISIBLY AGITATED. AT WHAT POINT DID IT ESCALATE TO THE POINT THAT HE HAD YOU IN A CHOKE HOLD?

07:18:27-35

MW: THE TROOPER WAS IN A STATE OF RAGE FROM THE BEGINNING AND EVEN AFTER BEING INFORMED THAT WE HAD A PATIENT THERE WAS TOTAL DISREGARD

07:18:36-40

MW: SO HE STARTED IN A STATE OF RAGE AND SIMPLY ESCALATED FROM THAT POINT.

MAGGIE: DID YOU KEEP REPEATING TO HIM THAT YOU HAD A PATIENT IN THE BACK OF THIS AMBULENCE?

07:18:48-59

MW: NOT ONLY DID I REPEAT IT. BUT FAMILY MEMBERS CONSTANTLY REPEATED AND YELLED AT HIM THAT WE HAVE A PATIENT AND THAT THEIR MOTHER, WIFE WAS IN THE UNIT.

MAGGIE: HE SAYS THAT HE DID NOT REALIZE IT UNTIL WELL AFTER THE SITUATION INTENSIFIED. WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE LESSON HERE?

07:19:10-27

MW: IF I HEARD YOUR QUESTION CORRECTLY.. HE WAS IN SUCH A STATE OF RAGE THAT MAYBE HE DID NOT COMPREHEND. BUT AS THE VIDEO CLEARLY SHOWS HE WAS TOLD EMPHATICALLY THAT WE HAD A PATIENT THAT NEEDED TO GET TO THE HOSPITAL SEVERAL TIMES.

MAGGIE: WHAT IS THE LESSON HERE. WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH... DO YOU THINK THIS TROOPER SHOULD BE SUSPENDED OR IS THERE JUST AN OVERALL LESSON THAT YOU WANT PEOPLE TO TAKE AWAY.

07:19:37-59

MW: THE BOTTEM LINE IS THAT AT THIS POINT, WE WOULD LIKE TO TAKE HIS BADGE AND HIS GUN AWAY B/C OF THE TOTAL DISREGARD HE SHOWED FOR THIS PATIENT AND B/C OF THE STATEMENTS YESTERDAY... IT OBVIOUS THAT NUMBER ONE, HE DOESN'T THINK HE DID ANYTHING WRONG AT THIS POINT. AND NIETHER DOES HIS SUPERIORS THINK HE DID ANYTHING WRONG.

07:20:00-10

MW; SO THIS GENTLEMEN NEEDS TO HAVE HIS ABILITY TO CARRY A GUN AND A BADGE TAKEN AWAY SO THAT NO OTHER INDIVIDUAL AND PARTICULARLY PATIENT HAS TO GO THROUGH THIS.

Over the weekend, the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety released video from the OHP trooper's dash cam. 

OHP trooper Daniel Martin's attorney talked with the media Monday afternoon. 

Richard O'Carroll responded to that news conference Monday evening. 

More On News9.com
-
Paramedic's Attorney Responds
- Attorney Defends Trooper's Actions in Paramedic Scuffle
- Was the Choke Hold Legal?
- Trooper Dash Cam Video Raises Concerns
- In Depth Analysis of Trooper Dash Cam Video
- OHP Releases Trooper's Dash Cam Clip
- Read the troopers' reports
- OHP Trooper Investigation Closed
- Paramedic Defends Himself After Trooper Scuffle
- Read the Paramedic's Report
- Trooper Claims Paramedic Gave Him The Finger
- Read a witness's statement
- Paramedics, Troopers Defend Themselves After Fight
- Trooper, Paramedic Fight Caught on Tape

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