What I don’t understand is this: The cop car was evidently in some great tearing hurry to get to an emergency, otherwise they ought not be running lights and sirens, right? But they have time not just to stop and write a ticket, but to turn around and come back to write the ticket, because the ambulance didn’t pull over into a parked car? And then to get in a pissing match with the ambulance driver and potentially run somebody in and book them? Somehow, that doesn’t quite seem to match up.
The police car was running lights, but from what I can tell not the siren. It was moving quite fast, and did proceed to the call it was making. After it arrived there, apparently the situation did not require the trooper’s help, and he then went after the ambulance.
It’s not clear if the car on the shoulder had just pulled over or had been there a while, but it seems the ambulance driver’s attention was focused on it (as it certainly should have been), which was a factor in his not seeing the police car approach from behind. He then moved the ambulance partly into the leftside lane to avoid that car, which actually protruded some into his driving lane. Unfortunately this was at just the time the police car started to pass. The cop interpreted this as the ambulance cutting him off, and he then interpreted the ambulance driver’s hand up in a “whoops - sorry” gesture as the finger. And of course to the cop, only his own perception of what happened and why has any validity.
So you have a cop loaded with righteous indignation for having been ignored (ambulance didn’t pull over), jeopardized (ambulance moved toward him), and insulted (driver gave him the finger). Then you have a lead EMT blissfully unaware of all this but with a “take no crap” attitude about completing his mission. Fire and gasoline.
So yes, the EMT’s actions were a factor in the escalation of the incident, but as near as I can tell they were legal and ethically appropriate. I can’t say the same of the trooper’s actions.
ETA: The cop’s actions and attitude match up perfectly with the mindset of law enforcement personnel who are incapable of believing that they can be wrong. Do not hold your breath waiting for any genuine apology or admission of error from the trooper.
I seen the dash cam and phone video, not a very intelligent cop to begin with.
Is his chocking of the EMT assault?
The 3rd full paragraph page 3
http://static.ktul.com/documents/emtstatement_0509.pdf
has it been confirmed?
Can he do that to an unarmed person?
Can that person consider that as deadly threat had dummy 606 done that? and take action to defend his life?
My interpretation is cops are given free reign and can do no wrong, per elected official action (or lack of) afterward.
Keep the cameras switched on.
And of course, it’s an Indian Nation’s ambulance, & some lily-white Okie cops. There’s some ethnic stuff here, I bet.