Update: Oklahoma Highway Patrol Trooper Daniel Martin has been suspended for 5 days for using excessive force. The internal investigation concluded that it was justified to stop and arrest the paramedic but "the situation could have, and should have, been handled differently,"

On May 24th an Oklahoma Highway Patrol Trooper Daniel Martin got into a fight with an EMT unit (paramedics Maurice White Jr. and his partner, Paul Franks) in Okfuskee County. He reported a percieved finger gesture as the reason for the scuffle. The officer reported that he and his partner were going on a stolen-vehicle call with the emergency lights and siren on when the EMT vehicle (without emergency lights or siren on) did not yield to their car. The EMT unit claims that they never heard the siren!

Once on the scene of the stolen-car report in Paden, Martin said he saw the ambulance pass and observed Franks extend his left hand out the window with his middle finger raised.

"I took the gesture as a sign of defiance to (the) failure to yield earlier, and that they (ambulance) did not believe they had a responsibility to adhere to the rules of the road in regards to my emergency vehicle," Martin said.

Seeing that the stolen-car call was under control, Martin said, he chased the ambulance until it pulled over.

Once he got out of his cruiser, he was trying to talk to Franks when he saw White get out of the ambulance and slam the "door in a hostile manner."

Martin said White kept getting between them, despite repeatedly being told by Martin to back off. Source: www.tulsaworld.com

Today, trooper got acquitted of misdemeanor assault and battery charges. He is supposed to get back to the job soon.

The incident was recorded on camera!

Here is the footage -

Racism, Misunderstanding or "He called for it" - You decide!