Who is Alex Wubbels?
Alex Wubbels is a registered nurse who was arrested in July 2017 by a Salt Lake City police officer after she refused to allow the officer to draw blood from an unconscious patient without a warrant.
The incident was caught on police body camera footage and went viral sparking widespread outrage.
Alex Wubbels arrested and charged
Wubbels was working as a nurse at the University of Utah Hospital when she was approached by Officer Jeff Payne who was investigating a traffic accident.
Payne had obtained a warrant to draw blood from the driver of the other vehicle involved in the accident but the driver was unconscious and could not give consent.
Payne demanded that Wubbels draw the blood from the driver anyway but Wubbels refused citing hospital policy.
Payne became increasingly agitated and eventually arrested Wubbels for interfering with an investigation. He handcuffed her and placed her in a police car, but she was released after about 20 minutes. No charges were ever filed against her.
The video of Wubbels’s arrest quickly went viral sparking widespread outrage.
Many people felt that Payne had abused his power and that Wubbels had been treated unfairly. The incident also raised questions about the use of force by police officers.
In the wake of the incident Payne was fired from the Salt Lake City Police Department. He later sued the department, but the lawsuit was dismissed.
Where Is She Now?
As for what Alex Wubbels does now she is still a registered nurse and she is still an advocate for patient rights.
She is also a member of the board of directors of the National Nurses United, a union that represents nurses across the country.
Wubbels has since become a national advocate for police accountability and patient rights. She has spoken at conferences and events around the country, and she has written a book about her experience.
Read More: Why Was Xolani Khumalo Arrested?
