Police officer: I showed  'insensitivity'

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DALLAS -- A Dallas police officer who drew his gun after pulling over an NFL player rushing to see his dying mother-in-law apologized today for his actions.

The statement from Officer Robert Powell was released through his attorneys and referred to his traffic stop last week of Houston Texans running back Ryan Moats.

In it, Powell says "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 ... After stopping Mr. Moats' vehicle, I showed poor judgment and insensitivity to Mr. Moats and his family by my words and actions."

A message could not be left for the Moats family on Friday evening. Ryan Moats' agent did not immediately return a message left by The Associated Press.

Powell stopped Moats' SUV outside Baylor Regional Medical Center in the Dallas suburb of Plano after the vehicle rolled through a red light. By the time the 26-year-old NFL player received a ticket and a lecture from Powell, his mother-in-law was dead.

Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press

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