Investigators SLAM Utah Cops For Bullying And Illegally Arresting A Nurse (VIDEO)



Two months ago, Salt Lake City police detective Jeff Payne wanted a blood sample from the victim of a drunk driving crash. But there was one problem–he didn’t have a warrant. Alex Wubbels, the charge nurse of the burn unit at University of Utah Hospital, told him that without a warrant, hospital policy, as well as federal and Utah law, didn’t allow him to get the sample. Payne’s response was to violently arrest her and bundle her into his patrol car for 20 minutes.

No one who watched the footage from Payne’s body cam could credibly conclude that this arrest was proper. I say “credibly” because a writer for The Daily Caller somehow concluded that Wubbels got what she deserved. On Wednesday, investigations by the police department’s internal affairs unit and a civilian review board came to a somewhat different conclusion. Both reviews condemned Payne and his watch commander, James Tracy, for multiple violations of police department policies and basic standards of decency.

Salt Lake City mayor Jackie Biskupski announced the findings of both investigations at a press conference on Wednesday afternoon. Watch here.

Biskupski said that the arrests had “strained the trust we have built between the public and the police department.” Looking at the internal affairs reports, as obtained by The Salt Lake Tribune, it’s hard not to agree.

The reports on Payne and Tracy are absolutely scathing. Read Payne’s review here, and Tracy’s review here. Both were faulted for conduct unbecoming an officer, being discourteous in dealing with the public, and violating the department’s code of ethics and the city’s standards of official conduct. Payne was also faulted for not filing a “use of force” report after his brief arrest of Wubbels.


Payne was criticized for treating Wubbels in an “inappropriate, unreasonable, unwarranted, discourteous, (and) disrespectful” manner. Looking further at the report, that’s being extremely kind. Payne was asked by a fellow officer why he didn’t get a warrant to obtain blood from the victim, William Gray. Payne said he’d already spoken with the police department in nearby Logan, who requested the blood sample, and had been told that there was no probable cause for a warrant. This appears to corroborate previous statements from Logan’s police chief, who says he told Payne they were in no hurry to get blood. Despite this, Payne threatened to arrest Wubbels if she didn’t let him through.

Tracy was criticized for making an “immediate and impulsive decision” to order Wubbels’ arrest without getting all of the facts. Tracy had operated under the assumption that Payne and Wubbels were close to Gray. In truth, Gray was on another floor. It also turned out that the hospital automatically got blood samples, and accident investigators usually got a warrant for the records.

Both reports contain language that should send a chill down Payne and Tracy’s spines. They criticize both officers for “poor professional judgment” that casts doubt on their ability to “effectively serve the public and the Department in a manner that inspires the requisite trust, respect, and confidence.” Internal affairs was particularly concerned at such a lapse from two officers with more than two decades of police experience–27 for Payne, 22 for Tracy.

The civilian review board’s report, viewable here, came to a similar conclusion. It faulted Payne and Tracy for not understanding the laws governing blood samples, and for not getting legal advice on how to handle the situation. Tracy was criticized for not upholding his duties as watch commander. According to the board, if anyone should have thought to get legal advice on the matter, it was Tracy. It also criticized Tracy for losing control of his emotions as the situation escalated.

These reports leave no doubt–this arrest was improper, and Payne and Tracy’s behavior was disgraceful. And since it further shows that Payne kept pressing for the draw despite being told there was no probable cause for a warrant, it also appears to prove this arrest was illegal as well. Both the Salt Lake County district attorney and the FBI are investigating the matter. Hopefully they’re paying attention.


Both Payne and Tracy have 20 days to respond to the report, after which police chief Mike Brown will make a final decision on the officers’ future. However, after reading these reports–especially noting that Payne continued to press for a draw despite knowing he had no basis to do so, and that Tracy was derelict at best in his duty to supervise him, there is no defensible reason for these officers to keep their badges.

(featured image: screenshot courtesy YouTube)

Darrell is a 30-something graduate of the University of North Carolina who considers himself a journalist of the old school. An attempt to turn him into a member of the religious right in college only succeeded in turning him into the religious right's worst nightmare--a charismatic Christian who is an unapologetic liberal. His desire to stand up for those who have been scared into silence only increased when he survived an abusive three-year marriage. You may know him on Daily Kos as Christian Dem in NC. Follow him on Twitter @DarrellLucus or connect with him on Facebook. Click here to buy Darrell a Mello Yello.