EDITOR'S NOTE: Moats and his wife appeared on "Good Morning America" on Monday morning to discuss their encounter with the Dallas police officer.
By now, you probably have heard about running back Ryan Moats' encounter with the Dallas police outside of a hospital while his monther-in-law was dying. The police have issued an apology, but the dash-cam video of officer Robert Powell lecturing a helpless Moats is heart wrenching.
This morning, Moats appeared in an exclusive interview on ABC-TV's Good Morning America. Moats told anchor Robin Roberts that he feared for his wife Tamishia's life because Powell "pointed a gun at her." It wasn't easy for the couple to watch footage from the scene, but GMA gave them time to pay tribute to Tamisha's mother (see below for a transcript from the show).
According to ProFootballTalk.com, NFLPA Executive Director DeMaurice Smith issued the following statement about the situation:
"I expressed my condolences to Ryan's family and I am very sorry for their loss. I have also spoken with the Dallas Police Dept about their continued investigation of this matter and appreciated their swift reaction with respect to this incident. We stand by to offer any assistance asked of us and Mr. Moats' family. I have asked that NFLPA Executive Committee member Mark Bruener, who played for the Houston Texans last season, and Texans Player Reps Chester Pitts and Kris Brown serve as the liaison between the NFLPA and the family."
Click here to listen to comments from Moats on the incident.
Also, to check out Dallas police Officer Robert Powell's apology, which was released Friday, March 27, through his attorneys, read below:
"I wish to publicly and sincerely apologize to the Moats family, my colleagues in the Dallas Police Department, and to all those who have been rightfully angered by my actions on March 18, 2009. After stopping Mr. Moats' vehicle, I showed poor judgment and insensitivity to Mr. Moats and his family by my words and actions. With great remorse I accept my responsibility for adding to their grief in an already difficult time.
"I have attempted to reach Mr. Moats to express my personal condolences directly to his family and my regret about my actions. While these efforts have been unsuccessful so far, I hope we can talk soon.
"Again, I am very sorry for what I did and ask for the forgiveness of all those touched by these unfortunate events."
Here is a transcript from the interview on GMA. Of note, the couple said that they had not received any personal messages from Powell, but they would accept his apology.
Robin Roberts: AND JOINING US NOW IN A "GMA" EXCLUSIVE THE FIRST NATIONAL TELEVISION INTERVIEW RYAN MOATS AND HIS WIFE TAMISHIA. AND I KNOW THAT YOU ALL COULDN'T EVEN LOOK AT THE VIDEO WHEN IT WAS PLAYING RIGHT THEN. FIRST AND FOREMOST, OUR CONDOLENCES TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.
Ryan Moats: THANK YOU.
Robin Roberts: I KNOW THIS HAPPENED ON MARCH 18th AND YOU WERE ABLE TO HAVE A WONDERFUL HOMECOMING FOR YOUR MOTHER. HOW ARE YOU DOING?
Tamishia Moats: YOU KNOW, I'M MAKING IT. IT'S A TOUGH PROCESS, BUT, YOU KNOW, TOGETHER AS A FAMILY WE HAVE A LOT OF SUPPORT. WE'RE MAKING IT.
Robin Roberts: I CAN'T WAIT TO HEAR MORE ABOUT YOUR MOTHER AND WE'LL TALK. JUST 45 YEARS OLD. WE'LL TALK MORE ABOUT HER IN JUST A MOMENT. CAN YOU TAKE US BACK, RYAN? YOU'RE FRANTICALLY TRYING TO GET TO THE HOSPITAL WITH YOUR FAMILY. YOU ROLL THROUGH THE RED LIGHT. THE SIRENS ARE GOING ON BEHIND YOU. YOU PULL INTO THE PARKING LOT AT THE HOSPITAL.CAN YOU TELL US WHAT HAPPENED THEN?
Ryan Moats: WELL, MY WIFE WAS THE FIRST ONE TO EXIT THE CAR AND I REALLY DIDN'T REALIZE WHAT WAS GOING ON AT THE TIME. ONCE I GOT OUT, I REALIZED IT WAS PRETTY SERIOUS AND, YOU KNOW, I WAS AFRAID FOR HER BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, HE WAS POINTING THE GUN AT HER. HE HAD THE GUN; HE HAD THE GUN OUT, DRAWN.
Robin Roberts: DRAWN. HE MAINTAINS HE DIDN'T POINT IT. HE SAID HE DID HAVE IT OUT OF HIS HOLSTER. HE POINTED IT AT HER.
Ryan Moats: YEAH. SO MY FIRST REACTION WAS JUST TO NOT REACT, JUST PUT MY HANDS ON THE CAR AND THEN ONCE HE SAW ME GET OUT, HIS ATTENTION CAME TOWARDS ME. AND THAT'S WHEN PRETTY MUCH ALL THE VERBAL ABUSE AND EVERYTHING HAD WENT ON.
Robin Roberts: TAMISHIA, YOU WANTED TO GET TO YOUR MOTHER'S SIDE.
Tamishia Moats: YES.
Robin Roberts: AND YOU JUST GOT INTO THE HOSPITAL AS FAST AS YOU COULD.
Tamishia Moats: YES, IN THE SITUATION LIKE THAT, YOU REALLY DON'T THINK ABOUT HOW DANGEROUS IT IS BECAUSE HONESTLY HE COULD HAVE SHOT ME. I MEAN HE POINTED THE GUN AT ME AND HE BASICALLY SAID, YOU KNOW, "DON'T TAKE ANOTHER STEP. DON'T MOVE. GET BACK OVER HERE." I THOUGHT THAT WAS KIND OF LIKE A THREAT, LIKE DON'T MOVE BASICALLY - YOU KNOW, IN MY MIND, I'M THINKING OR ELSE HE'LL SHOOT. SO I WAS THINKING THROUGH MY MIND I'M GOING TO GO IN THIS HOSPITAL. I WILL BE BY MY MOM'S SIDE NO MATTER WHAT. AT THAT POINT IN TIME, I WAS READY FOR WHATEVER HE WAS GOING TO DO BECAUSE YOU KNEW MINUTES WERE VERY PRECIOUS AT THAT TIME.
Robin Roberts: IS THERE ANY WAY THAT THE OFFICER, DID HE EVER CONVEY TO YOU THAT HE THOUGHT THAT YOU WERE EMOTIONAL TRYING GET TO THE HOSPITAL AS FAST AS YOU COULD AS SAFE AS YOU COULD. YOU HAD YOUR HAZARD LIGHTS ON. DID HE FEEL YOU MAY IN YOUR DRIVING HAVE PUT OTHER PEOPLE IN HARM'S WAY?
Ryan Moats: WELL, I DON'T KNOW, BUT I E KNOW THAT I WAS -- I GOT THERE AS SAFELY AS I COULD. I FLAGGED DOWN ALL THE TRAFFIC. I DIDN'T RUN THROUGH A RED LIGHT. I STOPPED AT THE RED LIGHT AND I ASKED FOR PERMISSION OF THE OTHER DRIVERS TO LET ME GO. THEY SAW ME WITH MY HAZARDS ON, SO THEY LET ME GO. THEY HAD GREEN AND LET ME GO, SO I WASN'T RECKLESS AT ALL.
Robin Roberts: PEOPLE FROM THE HOSPITAL, NURSES, OTHER -- ANOTHER OFFICER PLEADING WITH OFFICER POWELL, LETTING HIM KNOW THAT THE SITUATION WAS DIRE. DID YOU THINK ALSO THAT, HEY, I'M JUST GOING TO WALK AWAY AND GO INTO THE HOSPITAL AND JOIN MY FAMILY?
Ryan Moats: WELL, WHEN I GOT OUT, I THOUGHT IF I EXPLAIN IT TO HIM, MAYBE HE WILL UNDERSTAND. SO I WENT TO EXPLAIN IT TO HIM AND, YOU KNOW, I WASN'T GETTING ANYWHERE, SO I JUST SAY, YOU KNOW, HOW ABOUT I JUST BE QUIET, LET HIM SAY WHAT HE HAS TO SAY AND MAYBE HE'LL JUST GO AHEAD AND WRITE THE TICKET AND LET ME GO AND GIVE ME TIME ENOUGH TO GET UP, SO HE -- HE STARTED TO TALK AND IT JUST KEPT GOING AND GOING AND -- I JUST HAD TO SAY TO HIM, "COULD YOU JUST WRITE THE TICKET AND JUST LET ME GO?" I WAS THINKING MAYBE HE COULD WALK UP WITH ME AND LET ME SAY MY GOOD-BYES, I DIDN'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH PAYING THE TICKET. I UNDERSTAND ABOUT THE RED LIGHT BUT, YOU KNOW, I THOUGHT HE WOULD HAVE SOME TYPE OF SYMPATHY.
Robin Roberts: POLICE COMMANDERS WHO HAVE VIEWED THE TAPE COMMENDED YOU, SAID YOU NEVER TRIED TO SAY YOU WERE AN NFL PLAYER. YOU NEVER WERE LOOKING FOR SPECIAL TREATMENT. YOU JUST WANTED TO GET TO THE SIDE OF YOUR MOTHER-IN-LAW.
Ryan Moats: YEAH.
Robin Roberts: AND OFFICER POWELL, THREE YEARS ON THE FORCE, HE HAS ISSUED A STATEMENT, AS WELL AND HE SAID HE WISHED "TO PUBLICLY AND SINCERELY APOLOGIZE TO THE MOATS FAMILY. AFTER STOPPING MR. MOATS' VEHICLE I SHOWED POOR JUDGMENT AND INSENSITIVITY TO MR. MOATS AND HIS FAMILY BY MY WORDS AND ACTIONS." AND HE SAID HE WAS TRYING TO REACH OUT TO THE FAMILY AND HASN'T BEEN ABLE TO GET IN TOUCH WITH YOU. WOULD YOU LIKE TO TALK WITH HIM? WHAT WOULD YOU WANT TO SAY TO HIM? Ryan Moats: WELL, FIRST OF ALL, I ACCEPT HIS APOLOGY AND I HOPE IT'S SINCERE, A SINCERE APOLOGY. SO -- YOU KNOW, I'VE KIND OF LEFT IT UP TO MY WIFE BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I LOVE JO, MY MOTHER-IN-LAW; WE CALL HER JO. EVEN I CALLED HER JO. AND SHE WAS JUST LIKE MY MOM, BASICALLY AND SO I WANTED TO LEAVE THAT UP TO HER - IF SHE WANTED TO HEAR THAT FROM HIM PERSONALLY.
Robin Roberts: TAMISHIA?
Tamishia Moats: ACTUALLY IT WOULD BE COMFORTING IF WE HEARD AN APOLOGY DIRECTLY FROM HIM. BUT UP UNTIL THIS POINT, WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED A PERSONAL CALL FROM HIM DIRECTLY. BUT, YOU KNOW, MAYBE HE TRIED TO REACH OUT AND WE JUST PERHAPS MISSED HIS CALL. BUT WE DEFINITELY WOULD ACCEPT HIS APOLOGY BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, HE'S A HUMAN BEING SO WE DEFINITELY WOULD ACCEPT IT.
Robin Roberts: LET'S TALK ABOUT JO. JUST 45 YEARS OLD. SHE WAS A TEACHER, LOVED AND BELOVED. YOU TELL US ABOUT HER.
Tamishia Moats: WELL, MY MOM, SHE WAS A HEADSTART TEACHER AND JUST A FAMILY PERSON. TWO THINGS THAT JUST DESCRIBE HER WOULD BE ONE - SHE LOVED HER KIDS AND SHE LOVED OUR FAMILY. AND JUST A STORY THAT WOULD KIND OF MAKE YOU KNOW WHAT KIND OF A PERSON SHE WAS - ONCE SHE TOOK HER ENTIRE BONUS FROM WORK TO BUY CHRISTMAS PRESENTS FOR ALL OF HER KIDS BECAUSE SHE LOVED THE HOLIDAYS AND SHE BELIEVED THAT ALL KIDS SHOULD HAVE CHRISTMASES. AND SHE WANTED EACH KID TO HAVE AT LEAST TWO GIFTS TO OPEN ON CHRISTMAS MORNING. SO, YOU KNOW, THAT'S JUST KIND OF THE PERSON THAT SHE WAS. SHE WAS ALWAYS LOOKING OUT FOR OTHER PEOPLE BEFORE HERSELF. AND SHE WAS LOOKING OUT FOR PEOPLE.
Robin Roberts: WE SHOULD SAY SHE DIED BREAST CANCER. WE CAN SEE THE RIBBON YOU'RE PROUDLY WEARING. VERY PROACTIVE LETTING PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT EARLY DETECTION.
Tamishia Moats: SHE WAS A MEMBER OF A BREAST CANCER SUPPORT GROUP OF THE AREA WHERE I'M FROM. THIS WAS HER SECOND TIME WITH CANCER. ORIGINALLY SHE WAS DIAGNOSED IN 2006. THIS LAST TIME, IT CAME REALLY FAST, CAME BACK REALLY FAST. EARLY DETECTION IS VERY IMPORTANT. IT'S IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO GET SCREENED AND JUST STAY ON TOP OF THEIR, YOU KNOW, THE RECORDS AND GET SECOND, THIRD OPINIONS, JUST BECAUSE IT CAN SPREAD REALLY QUICKLY. AND THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED TO HER.
Robin Roberts: WELL, TAMISHIA, I KNOW HOW PROUD SHE WAS OF YOU. SHE DID THINK OF YOU AS A SON; YOU WERE A SON TO HER, RYAN. SO THANK YOU BOTH VERY MUCH. YOU ALL DID NOT MAKE THIS PUBLIC THAT IT WAS BROKEN BY OUR ABC AFFILIATE WFAA. REBECCA LOPEZ SAW THIS TAPE. AND YOU WILL YOU WERE GOING TO DO WAS FILE A WRITTEN COMPLAINT. THAT WAS ALL THAT WAS TO IT BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
