The Salt Lake City police department has issued a formal apology for a disturbing scene caught on video last month.
In the police body cam video, a Utah nurse, Alex Wubbels, is seen dragged out of the hospital by a police officer after she refused to violate hospital policy by drawing blood from an unconscious patient.
Earlier in the video, Wubbels, a former Olympian, is seen explaining to police officers that she cannot draw blood from an unconscious patient without their consent unless the hospital is given a judge’s order or if the patient is under arrest. Wubbels obtains a written copy of the hospital policy and explains it calmly to the officers.
“I’m just trying to do what I’m supposed to do. That’s all,” Wubbels tells the officers.
Wubbels was released without charges after spending about 20 minutes in the back of a police cruiser.
On Friday night, the Salt Lake City police announced on Twitter that police employees, including an officer involved in the incident, had been placed on leave pending an investigation.
Also on Friday, Salt Lake City police Chief Mike Brown apologized for the incident in a news conference.
“I was alarmed by what I saw in the video with our officer and Ms. (Wubbels). I am sad at the rift this has caused between law enforcement and the nurses we work so closely with.”
Wubbels has not pressed any charges and is not expected to.
Feature photo: TODAY show video screenshot
