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So my opinion on this had changed somewhat based on two things.

First, the officer asserts that he was instructed by his superior officer to arrest the nurse if she interfered. So, he wasn’t simply doing this because he was mad, as the video made it seem, but because he was following his own orders.

Secondly, the officer was actually trained to draw blood himself, so presumably he wasn’t trying to force the nurse to draw blood, he was simply trying to go and do it himself.

I still think the situation could have been handled much better, but it seems closer to possible obstruction now.

but it seems closer to possible obstruction now.

No, the cops were plain wrong, there was a Supreme Court decision about a year ago which dictates when blood can be drawn. As a police phlebotmist he should have known about this law.

The nurse had no motive to "obstruct justice." She was following not only hospital policy, but the law with respect to the situation. Her job, and even her nurses license could have been at risk for breaking those laws.

She was 100% right, and the cop was 100% wrong. The idea of being handcuffed and detained in this situation is outrageous.

First, the officer asserts that he was instructed by his superior officer to arrest the nurse if she interfered. So, he wasn’t simply doing this because he was mad, as the video made it seem, but because he was following his own orders.

Just following orders is not a valid excuse. If neither the officer, nor the supervisor can state proper authority for drawing the blood, absent a warrant or arrest, they've nothing to go on.

Don’t go all wobbly on us now, caligatrux.

Take another look at the video. It doesn’t matter if the cop was just following orders. At no time does he say “Do as I instruct, or you’re under arrest.” At a minimum, he should have made that clear. But no. He just exploded, and arrested her. He was out of control.

In the video the nurse cites what rules she is trying to follow. But the cop doesn’t say what law she is supposedly breaking. People threatened with arrest have the right to know why they are in trouble - just what law they are breaking.

And one more thing (sorry). How tough would have it been for the cop to get an electronic warrant? It would have taken ten minutes, maybe. I wonder why the cop didn’t go that route. Perhaps it was because he knew no judge would issue one.

First, the officer asserts that he was instructed by his superior officer to arrest the nurse if she interfered. So, he wasn’t simply doing this because he was mad, as the video made it seem, but because he was following his own orders.

Secondly, the officer was actually trained to draw blood himself, so presumably he wasn’t trying to force the nurse to draw blood, he was simply trying to go and do it himself.

There was no warrant to take blood from the unconscious victim (who was never a suspect). Neither the detective or his boss had the authority under Utah state law, and under the US Constitution, to draw the blood. The detective admitted he had no warrant or authority to draw the blood, yet tried to insist to the nurse that he still did.

I don't know how it is in the world of civilian law enforcement, but as an officer in the military, had I ever given an illegal order like this detective's boss did, that was clearly against the Constitution, I would have been in a world of sh-t. Had the person I given the order to acknowledged that it was an illegal order, and rather than turn me in, still followed it, he or she would have been in a world of sh-t.