Running back Ryan Moats plays professional football with the Houston Texans in the National Football League.

Moats was stopped by Dallas police officer Robert Powell on March 18, 2009, after allegedly running a red light on the way to a hospital. The officer held Moats and his family for 13 minutes, despite Moats telling the officer that his mother-in-law was near death. The mother-in-law died while Moats was being detained. The officer was initially placed on desk duty, then resigned from the department on April 1, 2009.ESPN.com: Powell Resigns After Moats Incident

Moats claims that he did roll through the red light, but only after he had checked for passing traffic. When the Dallas police officer Robert Powell stopped him in the hospital parking lot, Moats explained the situation, that he had just received a call that his mother-in-law, Jonetta Collinsworth, was dying after losing a battle to breast cancer.ESPN.com: Officer Delayed Moats as Relative

The officer reportedly told Moats to shut his mouth, threatening to take him to jail. Moats asked that the officer hurry with writing the ticket, at which point Powell continued to threaten Moats, saying he can place Moats in handcuffs, tow his truck and charge him with fleeing. Even after hospital security confirmed that Jonetta Collinsworth was in fact near death, Powell held Moats for several minutes while he checked for outstanding warrants. The traffic ticket was later dismissed and Powell was reassigned to dispatch, before he resigned from the department.ESPN.com: Officer Delayed Moats as Relative

On March 29, 2009, Maritza Thomas, wife of former Cowboys' linebacker Zach Thomas came forward with her own Robert Powell encounter. She was arrested in July of 2008 after Powell pulled her over for making an illegal u-turn and was detained for three hours before being released. Initially Thomas was not going to file charges, but changed her mind after what happened with Moats. She hopes this will help others who might have experienced similar encounters with Powell.ESPN: Thomas' wife detained by Moats' cop (March 29, 2009)

After playing college football with the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs, Moats was selected 77th overall in the 2005 NFL draft by the Philadelphia Eagles. He made his professional debut that same year, playing in seven games and recording 55 carries for 278 yards and three touchdowns, plus four receptions for seven yards. After an additional eight games with the Eagles in 2006, he missed the entire 2007 year after breaking his ankle prior to the season.Official Site of the Houston Texans: Ryan Moats

Moats was waived by the Eagles in 2008 and signed with the Arizona Cardinals. He played on the Cardinals practice squad for two weeks, then was waived and picked up by the Houston Texans. In his first season with the Texans, in 2008, Moats recorded 26 carries for 94 yards and a single touchdown, as well as three receptions for 14 yards.NFL.com: Ryan Moats