Video RN screaming, dragged into police car d/t refused blood draw on unconscious patient!

Nurses General Nursing

Updated:   Published

July 31 2017, guy fleeing police crosses median and slams into truck and dies. The truck catches fire severely burning the innocent driver, Mr. Gray, who was taken to SLC University. Police later showed up demanding to the UNCONSCIOUS innocent patient's blood. RN Alex shows them the policy requiring consent, arrest, or a warrant. Hospital administration back up RN Alex.

Police aggressively arrest RN Alex and removes her from the hospital. Officer body cam insanity released today:

NEWSPAPER ARTICLE:

Video shows Utah nurse screaming, being dragged into police car after refusing to let officer take blood from unconscious victim - The Salt Lake Tribune

Long video body cam:

In this video, the aggressive officer can be heard saying that he will ensure all the "transients" are brought to this hospitals ED since they won't cooperate after being told the administrators and privacy officer are on their way.

Original Crash (graphic):

Interesting note about Alex, she was a 2x Olympian, US Ski Team member, and national champion is Slalom and GS.

The treatment of this nurse was obviously horrific. What's also very concerning, in addition to him carrying a weapon, is that he works for EMS. I shudder at the thought of what he may have done to patients in the field.

He needs to be terminated from all positions effective immediately. He's too emotionally erratic and unsteady to be responsible and trusted.

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Specializes in Med-Surg/ ER/ homecare.
It is a complete outrage. The offending police officer has been removed from the

Watching this video, it is no wonder to me why the general public doesn't trust interactions with police officers. When they rough up and arrest a nurse who is simply doing her job under the LAW, why should anybody trust the cops?

Thank you for putting all cops under the same umbrella. It does wonders for those of us with law enforcement in our families.

The cop was very wrong, but he doesn't represent them all.

Sorry, quote didn't quite come out correctly.

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Specializes in Med-Surg/ ER/ homecare.
It is a complete outrage. The offending police officer has been removed from the blood collection unit (according to the Washington Post article), but he is not FIRED or even on administrative leave.

Watching this video, it is no wonder to me why the general public doesn't trust interactions with police officers. When they rough up and arrest a nurse who is simply doing her job under the LAW, why should anybody trust the cops?

The WP article also said the nurse hasn't decided yet as to whether or not take legal action against the Salt Lake City PD. I hope she does. This individual police officer needs to learn a lesson and get a refresher course in his job duties.

Meant to quote this

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Specializes in Med-Surg/ ER/ homecare.
I believe the cops knew/know the law, they don't care. They want what they want, WHEN they want it.

Again, great way to shove everyone under the same umbrella. "They".

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Specializes in Critical care, tele, Medical-Surgical.

The patient and surviver of the horrid accident in this story is Officer Gray, a reserve police officer in Rigby Idaho.

I include him, his family, and Nurse Wubblels in my prayers

RIGBY POLICE CHIEF THANKS UTAH NURSE FOR ‘STANDING FIRM' IN PROTECTING HIS OFFICER

The following is a news release from Rigby Police Chief Sam Tower. Photo shows Officer William Gray and April Gray from a GoFundMe page.

RIGBY — On July 26 of this year, one of our reserve officers, William Gray, was the victim in a horrific accident in northern Utah while working his full-time job as a truck driver.

The suspect in this incident was fleeing from Utah State Highway Patrol, when he crossed into oncoming traffic and collided head on with Gray's truck, severely injuring Gray and killing himself. Officer Gray was flown to the University of Utah's burn unit where he remains under their watchful, professional, and competent care...

... The Rigby Police Department would like to thank the nurse involved and hospital staff for standing firm and protecting Officer Gray's rights as a patient and victim. Protecting the rights of others is truly a heroic act...

... It is important to remember that Officer Gray is the victim in this horrible event, and that at no time was he under any suspicion of wrongdoing.

As he continues to heal, we would ask that his family be given privacy, respect, and prayers for continued recovery and peace...

Rigby police chief thanks Utah nurse for 'standing firm' in protecting his officer - East Idaho News

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Specializes in Med-Surg/ ER/ homecare.
I know its a bad idea to resist arrest but this situation is so outrageous and you can see/hear/feel this poor nurse's fear and even terror. I was feeling it just watching this video. I don't blame her for screaming and resisting. I would have done the same thing and I'm still upset for her. I feel her resisting arrest was justified because the arrest was so unjustified!

Resisting arrest is not lawful. Yes , the cop was wrong and she was wrongfully arrested. But think for a minute what it would be like if everyone who was ever placed under arrest was allowed to resist because they thought they shouldnt be arrested. Do you think drug dealers and murderers think they should go to jail? Its not that easy. I think they said she was released 20 minutes later. So resisting does nothing except escalate the situation.

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Specializes in Cardiac, ER.
I think that would have been exceedingly unwise. Situations like this shouldn't be about additional adrenaline and bravado. Those who were properly trained to potentially have to take down or subdue this "gentleman" (and I use that term ever so loosely) should have intervened in accordance with accepted techniques for handling of such a situation, and anyone not so trained should continue to do what they are trained to do (take care of and secure patients). It's not a matter of "not sticking up for" someone, but it IS about the idea that people tend to not act sensibly or safely when overtaken by emotion.

I think if this happened in my ER and we all had the wherewithal to stay calm, every nurse in the unit would line up to cite the policy/law and wait for handcuffs!!

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Specializes in Cardiac, ER.

Wuzzie, every trauma center I have ever worked in for the last 20 years draws BAC and a drug screen on EVERY classed out trauma patient. You can not just assume that the injury caused the mental status change. This is akin to getting a blood glucose, I don't know how many MVC's I've seen that come in with a glucose of 20, this is important to know.

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Specializes in PACU, ED.
This happened five weeks ago: July 26th.

Questions:

-Why was there no action by anyone in the justice system for five weeks?

-Why was there action taken only after this was released to the media?

-Who released the body cam to the media?

-Will the Lieutenant, who ordered the Detective to place her under arrest, be investigated? Does he have a superior who ordered him to give that order?

My guess is the PD was trying to keep this under wraps and hoping it would blow away. The DA and Mayor probably did not know of the event. Now they are scrambling to make things right.

I've read that in Utah it is a felony to assault a health care worker. I'm pretty sure the actions of Det. Payne during the false arrest would qualify as assault. Hopefully the DA will examine that aspect of the incident when deciding what charges to file against the Detective and his supervisor.

To date it seems the RN has not filed suit. She has been steadfast in pushing for remedial training for the PD to help prevent future problems. I hope she gets some money, even if she doesn't ask for any, as well as a huge apology. Wait, switch that. She deserves some apology and a huge pile of money.

I do admire her coolness in not resisting the arrest. Even with the arrest being determined illegal she could have been charged with assaulting the detective.

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Wuzzie, every trauma center I have ever worked in for the last 20 years draws BAC and a drug screen on EVERY classed out trauma patient. You can not just assume that the injury caused the mental status change. This is akin to getting a blood glucose, I don't know how many MVC's I've seen that come in with a glucose of 20, this is important to know.

I get what you're saying but we would draw BACs only on patients that were appropriate. We would not draw them on innocent victims knowing full well some sleazy attorney would subpoena the results and use them. A BAC doesn't change your plan of care because the only cure for drunk is time. If you follow your line of reasoning then everyone with mental status changes including granny from the nursing home should have one done. Your blood glucose example while accurate is irrelevant. Nobody will be impacted legally because their glucose is low and it is a reversible condition.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

I find the whole story disturbing.

Most people, even nurses, are unaware of the responsibilities of nurses in critical care areas and the ER. Especially the ER...nurses have a responsibility to know about medical legal issues, collecting evidence, chain of evidence whether a rape kit of a legal BAL/tox screen. What alarms me is the fact that these officers seemed to be in the dark about proper procedure, the legalities of obtaining the proper permission, and the routine of the hospitals. Even the "Duty Sarg" supervisor seem to be utterly clueless.

Several things they said on these released tapes id deeply disturbing. One of which the Duty Supervisor was "not aware of how they [the hospital] did things" and that he was unaware that there was blood drawn in the ED and that ETOH/tox screen is a normal part of a trauma panel. In many cases these bloods are enough and admissible in evidence. Sometimes the investigation warrants a "Legal" BAL which is drawn in a certain manner with approved cleansing substance. Now you get into chain of evidence and the patients/perp "permission"....which entails a warrant. Without such warrant it is a violation of the Fourth Amendment....illegal search and seizure. The supreme last year voted and supported obtaining a warrant when the patient cannot or will not give permission.

Now this patient....

1.) IS No longer in the ER

2.) Is not under arrest

3.) Is not the perp

4.) Cannot give consent

Now in any ER I have worked there is a protocol/policy that is approved by the local PD AND the hospitals Lawyers.

The usual and customary policy is... The patient needs to be under arrest and consent to the lab draw. Now if the patient cannot consent or refuses a warrant must be obtained. Like anything else this the "USUALLY" the standard.

My question...Why is it so important to get a tox specimen from the victim who also happens to be a reserve police officer? What are they looking for.....any tox screen is a moot point with the narcs on board. People have the right to not be subject to illegal search and seizure. They were talking about his ambulance job and taking on the indigent to the facility giving them the problem and the paying to the other facility. That too is a violation...you cannot cherry pick where you send patients.

I think this was going to be swept under the rug and someone released the body cam footage...now they really have a problem.

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Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.

Threads merged

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