Dallas Officer Resigns After Moats Controversy

((HT: MyFox DFW))

The police officer who detained an NFL player in a hospital parking lot while the player's mother-in-law was dying inside has resigned.

In a two-sentence letter (click here to see a PDF copy) , Dallas Police Department officer Robert Powell ((pictured, thanks Fox4 Dallas)) resigned Wednesday over the March 18 incident in which the officer drew his gun and threatened Houston Texans running back Ryan Moats.

"I made this decision in the hope that my resignation will allow the Dallas Police Department, my fellow officers, and the citizens of Dallas to better reflect on this experience, learn from the mistakes made, and move forward," Powell said in a statement released through his attorneys. (Click here to read the full statement.)

Powell stopped Moats' SUV in suburban Plano after the vehicle rolled through a red light. Moats' wife, Tamishia, and other relatives were also in the car.

While Powell lectured Moats and wrote him a ticket.

"I can screw you over," Powell, 25, can be heard saying on the video. "I'd rather not do that. Your attitude will dictate everything that happens." As they argued, the officer got irritated. "Shut your mouth," Powell said. "You can either settle down and cooperate or I can just take you to jail for running a red light."

Moat's mother-in-law died before he made it up to see her.

Powell later issued an apology. Moats' agent, Jordan Woy, said the couple has accepted the apology and will meet with Powell because he wanted to apologize in person. Woy said in an e-mail Wednesday that they'll meet so "the matter can be finalized and everyone can have closure to this situation."

Powell said he wants the meeting "to personally express my deep regret, sympathy, and to apologize for my poor judgment and unprofessional conduct." He also said he wants to apologize to his fellow officers.

A call to Dallas police was not immediately returned Wednesday.

In the video, Tamishia Moats and another woman disregarded Powell's order to get back inside their vehicle, and they rushed into the hospital. Powell yelled at Tamishia Moats to stay in the SUV.

"Excuse me, my mom is dying," Tamishia Moats said before going into the hospital.

"Do you understand?"

She was by the side of her mother when Collinsworth died a short time later.

Moats explained that he had waited until there was no traffic before continuing through the red light. When Powell asked for proof of insurance, Moats grew more agitated and told the officer to go find it.

Police said the ticket issued to Moats was dismissed. Police Chief Kunkle has apologized to the family over the incident, saying, "When we at the command staff reviewed the tape, we were embarrassed, disappointed."

Bob Gorsky, Powell's attorney, said his client felt it was "time to move on." He said Powell had no immediate employment plans but hopes to return to law enforcement.

"He wanted to keep his job very much, but he considered the toll this story was taking on his family and himself," Gorsky said.

Here's the dashboard cam tape from Powell's police car...

((HT: KDFW-TV))

Dallas Cops Embarassed By Moats Situation

((HT: KDFW))

Dallas police Chief David Kunkle apologizes for a traffic stop at a local hospital that prevented an NFL player from seeing a relative before she died.

The incident happened earlier this month when Houston Texans' running back Ryan Moats was visiting his mother-in-law, who was dying at a Plano hospital. Moats and his wife, along with other family members, drove to Baylor Regional Medical Center on March 18 on word that Jonetta Collinsworth was dying.

Inside the hospital parking lot, 25-year-old Officer Robert Powell pulled over the family's sport utility vehicle for having rolled through a red light.

Despite pleas from Moats and his family about the dire situation, the officer refused to allow family members into the hospital and, according to Kunkle, "berated" Moats while demanding proof of insurance. The officer also repeatedly threatened to arrest him, Kunkle said.

Moats' wife ran into the hospital and was there when her mother died, but Moats missed the woman's passing.

On Thursday, Kunkle said he was "embarrassed" and "disappointed" by Officer Powell's behavior. Kunkle also issued a formal apology to Moats and his family.

"His behavior, in my opinion, did not exhibit the common sense, the discretion, the compassion that we expect our officers to exhibit," Kunkle said. "It just seems to be so unreasonable based on the circumstances … Hard to find the right words and still be professional in my role as a police chief," Kunkle said.

He also said the Moats' family exercised extraordinary patience and restraint dealing with the officer. Officer Powell will be placed on paid leave and that the department would file administrative charges against him. Possible disciplinary action could include dismissal, Kunkle said.

Officer Powell has been on the force for nearly three years.

Kunkle said the DPD learned about the incident via a tip from a Plano officer who witnessed the traffic stop.

Here's the cop camera video of the stop from the patrol car's point-of-view...
((HT: DPD/KDFW))