Paramedic's Attorney Responds To OHP Trooper's Attorney

By Tara Vreeland, The News On 6

TULSA, OK -- Creek Nation Paramedic Maurice White's lawyer filed a tort claim in order get the dash cam video released.  Richard O'Carroll says filing the tort claim was a prerequisite to get the video.  But, he is unclear if there will be any action filed by Mr. White.

Attorney Richard O'Carroll says he hoped for a different attitude from OHP trooper Daniel Martin's lawyer, Gary James.

06/15/2009  Related Story: OHP Trooper's Attorney Defends His Client

"He could have let the air out of this completely. ‘I was wrong and I'm sorry and it was a mistake,'" said Richard O'Carroll, attorney for paramedic Maurice White.

James did not admit his client was at fault. Instead, he said Maurice White was in the wrong which started with jumping out of the ambulance and ended with resisting arrest.  Something White's attorney disagrees with.

"Not that I can see. And no, he did not," said Richard O'Carroll.

It's become a blame game. Each side has been dissecting the cell phone video, witness statements, and now, the recently released dashcam video.

"Everything on this needs to relate back to why are we here? One man is there protecting a patient and one man is there abusing his authority and throwing his weight around," said Richard O'Carroll, attorney for paramedic Maurice White.

But, who was abusing who may be up to a court to decide. At a news conference, Gary James, the attorney representing OHP Trooper Daniel Martin, showed pictures of bruises that Maurice White allegedly inflicted on Martin. James says White resisted arrest, but O'Carroll says not so fast.

"He was lawfully behaving against an unlawful action and in this state, that's appropriate," said attorney Richard O'Carroll.  "In Oklahoma, what we call a Wild West state, if the policeman's actions are inappropriate, you have a right to reasonably resist."

The next big question in the debate is what will happen next?

"Given Trooper Martin's attitude on this, I believe that I am going to have to instruct him as to what is right and what is wrong in this state. But, my client takes a different point of view, he still hopes that the government will handle this so he won't have to, but I'll definitely do it," said Richard O'Carroll, attorney for paramedic Maurice White.

Attorney Gary James asked those at his Monday news conference to look into Maurice White's history in Mayes County and Muskogee.

O'Carroll said there's nothing untoward or inappropriate or anything that relates to moral turpitude in Mr. White's background whatsoever.