In the video, nurse Alex Wubbels, a 1998 and 2002 Winter Olympics participant, is attempting to explain to detective Jeff Payne, the request for a blood draw for an unconscious patient has been denied as she cited the 2016 U.S Supreme Court hearing and cannot legally perform the procedure requested.
The patient is reported to be William Gray, a reserve office in Rigby, Idaho. He was a victim of a head on collision cause by a suspect in a police chase. The driver of the fleeing vehicle was reported to have deceased due to injuries sustained in the accident. The other driver, William Gray, was transported to University Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah. It’s at this point that Det. Payne requests the unwarranted blood draw.
The situation escalates when nurse Alex Wubbels calls her superior and follows his instructions as she carefully advises Det. Payne of the requirements that had been agreed on in 2016 between the police department and the hospital also stating that the patient, Mr. Gray, did not fall under the predetermined list.
Det. Payne then rushes towards Mrs. Wubbels, grabs her arm, pushing her towards the hospital and finally handcuffing her once they reach his car.
In one video, it is shown that Det. Payne is talking to another officer discussing his concern of his second job getting wind of the incident. In another piece of video, said officer is advising Det. Payne that the charge “..may not stick..” as there was no obstruction of justice.
Det. Payne’s other employer is Gold Cross Ambulance, where he works as a paramedic. Gold Cross Ambulance President, Mike Moffitt, was not aware of the incident until the video was release and has since announced that an internal investigation has been launched. Moffitt also states that Det. Payne does not have any indication of any previous incidents similar to this one during his employment with the company.
Since the release of this video, Det. Payne was placed on paid administrative leave on September 1, 2017.
Nurse Alex Wubbels was later released without any charges or jail time.
Salt Lake City Mayor Jackie Biskupski, responded to the incident by publicly apologizing:
“What I saw is completely unacceptable to the values of my administration and of the values of the Salt Lake City Police Department,” the mayor said, according to the paper. “I extend a personal apology to Mrs. Wubbels for what she has been through, for simply doing her job.
Wubbels responded with the following:
“This morning, I received a call from the Mayor of Salt Lake City and the Chief of Police. They both offered me personal apologies, which I felt were sincere. I accepted those apologies, and I look forward to working with both of them to help promote further civil dialogue and education. The common goal of all public service professionals should be to provide the best care to our fellow citizens. The outpouring of support has been beyond what I could have imagined. Since the incident, the city has taken this matter seriously, and i believe that positive change will occur.”
We can only hope that this brings positive change and awareness. These types of incidents happen more and more each day because of lack of communication or simply a power thirsty person. I will be a part of that change, I am a part of that change.
Written by: A.L.O
Green Door Chronicle 