Oklahoma state troopers versus ambulance drivers!

Paramedics, OHP Troopers Respond To Video
Posted: May 28, 2009 8:13 AM EDT Updated: May 28, 2009 12:36 PM EDT
The troopers attempt to restrain a paramedic during the altercation.

By Dave Jordan, NEWS 9 for NewsOn6.com

PADEN, OK -- Both sides are defending themselves after a confrontation between an Oklahoma Highway trooper and paramedics which was caught on video.

The OHP trooper in question identified in newly-released documents as Daniel Martin is under investigation by the state Department of Public Safety. This comes one day after video of him trying to arrest a Creek Nation paramedic in the middle of a transport made headlines nationwide.

In the video, you see a confrontation between first responders and troopers outside of an ambulance, as a patient inside waits for medical care.



OHP trooper Daniel Martin, who placed his hands around the neck of a paramedic, is now the subject of an internal investigation, although he and his partners remain on duty."The highway patrol officers, the troopers, are not being placed on any kind of administrative leave," OHP Captain Chris West said. "If the investigation shows there were some violations of department policy or procedure, we'll address those accordingly."

OHP claims the dispute started after the ambulance failed to yield to troopers who were responding to a call. Once the troopers finished their official business, they pulled over EMS as paramedics were transporting a patient inside. That patient was Kenyada Davis' mother.

Davis shot the video of the confrontation after paramedics were pulled over. "We're like trying to tell the guy, ‘Dude, my mom is in the back,'" Kenyada Davis said. "My stepdad was like, ‘My wife is in the back. Can we do this at the hospital?'" Both paramedics released statements they made to Creek Nation officials. According to Paramedic Paul Franks, he told Trooper Martin, "We have a patient en route to Prague ER... if you would follow us, we would sort this out afterwards." He says Martin told him "get your --- in my vehicle. I'm giving you a ticket right now."

At that point, Maurice White, the other paramedic, says he exited the rear of the ambulance to make a similar plea. Trooper Martin tried to arrest him, and after a brief struggle he returned to the back of the ambulance.

OHP dash cameras recorded the first confrontation between the men. Prosecutors now have that tape, which they say shows Maurice White assaulting Trooper Martin. "Anything that would be on the tape would be a matter of the internal investigation," said OHP Lt. Chris West.

The Okfuskee County District Attorney's office says it's reviewing the dash-cam video and all the other evidence surrounding this case, but no decision has been made as to whether charges will be filed against anyone involved in this confrontation. Creek Nation EMS officials wouldn't comment on the possibility of criminal charges, but they did say both paramedics remain on duty.