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My wife had a somewhat similar experience less than two weeks ago. She works in a hospital laboratory, and a policeman was let into the lab, a secured area, at about 11:30 pm by a hospital security guard. The officer then selected my wife and demanded some laboratory results on a patient that had been admitted earlier and also the name of the technologist who had run the tests.

My wife told him that the tests were only diagnostic and hospital policy is not to give them to law enforcement because they're not terribly reliable (the officer wanted blood test drug results) and would have to be reconfirmed with additional testing. In addition, the hospital doesn't have the stringent chain of custody required for use in a criminal case.

The cop claimed to have a subpoena which he thrust in her face. She tried to read it but he grabbed it back before she'd even gotten to the second page and threatened to arrest her.

My wife said that she wanted to call her supervisor to get permission to give him the information that he wanted. The officer refused to identify himself or even whether he was a local policeman or Texas Ranger, or one of the other assorted police agencies we have in this state. Instead, he spun her around and handcuffed her. He marched her off to another room where he kept her for over an hour, while others in the hospital tried to find someone who would make a decision.

My wife is not a supervisor and her name was not on the subpoena, and frankly, I'm pissed as hell. I'm going to get to the bottom of this, and when I find that officer's name I'm probably going to sue for false arrest and file a criminal charge of official oppression. This is America, and the cops are supposed to protect us, not abuse people who aren't even suspected of a crime.

And what the hell was the rush? It's not like a trial was starting in an hour. It was the middle of the night.

Oh MAN! I am so sorry that happened. I would defintely file a lawsuit on the jerk and notify the press. what was his justifcation for handcuffing her??? at least there were witnesses to the fact that she was handcuffed.

that is a story that could easily make the press. i would notify the press in your area. newspaper, tv, civil rights groups and radio. i believe in shining the spotlight on corrption- otherwise they will continue.