OF THE
TIMES
Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill announced Friday that he wants a criminal investigation into the July 26 arrest of University of Utah Hospital nurse Alex Wubbels. The arrest was captured on multiple police body cameras.Update (Oct. 12): The police chief of Salt Lake City has fired the officer who arrested Wubbels, Jeff Payne, after an internal investigation determined that Payne and his watch commander the day of the confrontation, Lt. James Tracy, violated several department policies. Tracy was demoted for his role in the situation. The chief was quoted as saying:
"In fairness to all those involved I have requested a criminal investigation into the incident so that the District Attorney's office could screen the matter after gathering all the facts," Gill stated. "Our office had not received any materials on the matter thus far and in the interest of justice and given the prima facie evidence a criminal investigation is warranted."
Salt Lake City Mayor Jackie Biskupski said as a result of the criminal investigation, the arresting officer, detective Jeff Payne, will be placed on full administrative leave with pay.
Mayor Jackie Biskupski called Payne's actions "completely unacceptable to the values of my administration and of the values of the Salt Lake City Police Department," in a statement Friday, the Tribune reported.
"I extend a personal apology to Ms. Wubbels for what she has been through for simply doing her job," Biskupski added.
An Internal Affairs investigation that will examine the actions of the arrest, will work with the Civilian Review Board in a parallel investigation, according to the Salt Lake City Tribune.
Police Chief Mike Brown described the severity of the case.
"I was alarmed by what I saw in the video with our officer and Ms. [Alex] Wubbels. I am sad at the rift this has caused between law-enforcement and the nurses we work so closely with. I want to be clear, we take this very seriously," he said, the Tribune reported.
Brown added that his department "apologized" and "promised to find a solution," as well as continue to improve training and policy by communicating with hospital staff.
On Friday afternoon, Wubbels issued a statement of her own, acknowledging the "sincere" apologies from the police chief and the mayor. She added that she would be "working with both of them to help promote further civil dialogue and education."
Wubbels also expressed appreciation for the public, saying their "outpouring of support has been beyond what I could have imagined."
"In examining your conduct," Brown wrote to Payne, "I am deeply troubled by your lack of sound professional judgment and your discourteous, disrespectful, and unwarranted behavior, which unnecessarily escalated a situation that could and should have been resolved in a manner far different from the course of action you chose to pursue."
Brown was similarly critical of Tracy, saying his lack of judgment and leadership was "unacceptable," and, "as a result, I no longer believe that you can retain a leadership position in the Department."
Hopefully William Gray will follow the lead of nurse Wubbels and bring a civil rights violation charge on the city for this outrageous breach of public trust. Taking blood while the guy is unconscious without a warrant is complete and total bullshit. Just an outrage.
Salt Lake City you need to fire this idiot immediately. It's the right thing to do.