Utah, USA police assaults nurse for doing her job

This video from the USA says about itself:

Police Officer Assaults Nurse For Simply Doing Her Job

1 September 2017

In the latest edition of “police officers caught abusing their power” a Utah University nurse, Alex Wubbles, was assaulted and unlawfully arrested back in July while she was simply just doing her job.

By Trévon Austin in the USA:

Notes on Police Violence

Salt Lake City nurse arrested after refusing demand to draw blood from unconscious patient

2 September 2017

Hospital surveillance and police bodycam footage released this week shows a nurse, at University Hospital in Salt Lake City, being unlawfully arrested and assaulted by a police officer.

The incident occurred July 26, at the University of Utah, when a semi-truck driver was brought into the hospital after being struck by a driver fleeing Utah Highway Patrol.

At the time, Alex Wubbles was working as the charge nurse. After refusing his demand to draw a blood sample from the injured patient, in accordance with hospital policy, Wubbles was arrested by detective Jeff Payne.

In the video, Wubbles can be seen explaining that a policy agreed upon by the hospital and police department indicates that blood cannot be taken without the consent of the patient, a warrant from a judge, or if the patient was under arrest.

As Detective Payne continued to demand a blood sample, a representative can be heard on Wubbles’s phone asking, “Why are you attacking the messenger?” Payne responds, “She’s telling me no.”

Told that he was making a mistake by threatening a nurse, Payne escalated the situation by telling Wubbles she was under arrest. He then violently grabbed Wubbles and pushed her outside the hospital. After placing Wubbles in handcuffs, Payne had a short exchange with other staff at the hospital where he was told that his actions were unnecessary. Payne responded that “I’m doing my job” and “I’m leaving now, with her.”

Throughout the encounter, Wubbles complained to the officer that he was hurting her.

The video ends with Wubbles being placed in a police vehicle. As is common in such cases, Wubbles was placed under arrest without being told why.

While officers are not required by law to tell someone why they are under arrest, it is clear that this case was a clear abuse of power.

All arrests without a warrant must be supported by probable cause that a suspect has committed a crime. What was Wubbles’s supposed crime? Following policy set by her employer and saying no to an officer.

The Salt Lake City Police Department has launched an internal investigation, but Detective Payne is still on active duty.

Nurses Condemn Police Assault on Utah Hospital RN for Advocating for an Unconscious Patient. ‘Yet Another Case of Hospital Workplace Violence – Setting a Chilling Example When Done by Law Enforcement,’ Nurses Say: here.

Union Denounces ‘Chilling’ Assault on Nurse Defending Her Patient from Police. “You’re making a huge mistake because you’re threatening a nurse”, by Julia Conley: here.