Officials at a Utah hospital are apologizing that security officers didn’t intervene after a nurse was arrested when she refused to allow police to draw a patient’s blood.
The hospital also said it’s implementing policy changes.
The announcements Monday mark the latest fallout from nurse Alex Wubbels’ release last week of the July 26 body-camera footage showing a Salt Lake City police officer dragging her from the University of Utah Hospital.
The officer has been put on leave and his agency apologized.
But Monday’s mea culpa from University of Utah Police Chief Dale Brophy marked his first public comments on the reaction by his officers at the hospital.
WATCH: Utah nurse’s violent arrest prompts protests in Salt Lake City
Brophy says none of the hospital officers have been disciplined but will receive additional training.
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Wubbels and her attorney weren’t immediately available for comment.
What happened
Video of the incident from Salt Lake City police officers’ body-worn cameras showed Wubbels, dressed in blue medical scrubs, consulting with colleagues before showing the waiting officers a printout of the University of Utah Hospital’s policy on providing blood samples to test for alcohol or drugs.
The patient was a truck driver who was comatose when he was brought to the hospital burns unit after a crash with a vehicle being driven by someone fleeing police, the Deseret News reported.
Wubbels explained to the officers that under the policy, which she said was agreed to by the police department, she would need a warrant, the patient’s consent or the patient would need to be under arrest.
“I’m just trying to do what I’m supposed to do, that’s all,” Wubbels told the officers, noting that they did not meet any of those criteria.
One officer, identified in media reports as Detective Jeff Payne, appeared angered and grabbed at Wubbels before gripping her around her torso. “We’re done,” Payne said. “You’re under arrest.”
He then dragged Wubbels outside as she screamed.
“Somebody help me!” Wubbels cried as Payne pushed her against a wall and handcuffed her. “You’re assaulting me! Stop! I’ve done nothing wrong.”
*With files from Reuters
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