Police praise 'heroic' nurse for standing up to detective demanding she take patient's blood without consent

'The Rigby Police Department would like to thank the nurse involved and hospital staff for standing firm'

The nurse who stood up to an officer who tried to take blood from a patient without their consent or a warrant, has been praised by police in Idaho.

Salt Lake City detective Jeff Payne was caught on camera as he argued with and then arrested Alex Wubbels for refusing to take a blood sample from the patient, who turned out to be William Gray, a police officer for the Idaho city of Rigby.

“The Rigby Police Department would like to thank the nurse involved and hospital staff for standing firm, and protecting Officer Gray’s rights as a patient and victim," the force said in a Facebook post. “Protecting the rights of others is truly a heroic act.”

Mr Gray was badly injured in a car accident in July and was flown to the University of Utah for emergency treatment.

In hospital, police tried to draw blood from the patient, who was unconscious and therefore unable to consent.

The hospital’s policy states blood cannot be taken from an unconscious patient unless they consent, have been arrested or a warrant has been granted.

Ms Wubbels informed Mr Payne he could not take blood under the circumstances, after checking with her managers.

She was arrested and filmed being dragged from the hospital to a police car, but was later released without charge.

Detective Payne is now facing a criminal investigation.