An award-winning registered nurse in Texas was abruptly terminated on Monday after bodycam footage and audio leaked showing her vowing that she would “let cops and their families die” during a drunk driving arrest.
35-year-old nurse Crystal Tadlock was pulled over late Saturday night in Magnolia, Texas, for speeding and failing a field sobriety test.
“A traffic stop was conducted on 1488. After an intoxication investigation, the female driver was arrested for DWI,” Magnolia Police Department wrote on Facebook.
“The female, who is a nurse, stated that if any of us came to her hospital, that she would make sure we died. Unfortunately we couldn’t charge her with not being a very nice person…”
As she was being handcuffed and escorted to the patrol vehicle, she allegedly yelled to nearby officers, “I will let you die, and your families too,” and explicitly threatened to abandon her professional obligations (i.e. “break her oath to do no harm”).
ABC13 reported:
In newly released video, the 35-year-old can be heard telling officers she works at Memorial Hermann Greater Heights Hospital while seated in the back of a patrol car.
“I’m a (expletive) nurse, and when you come through my hospital, don’t worry, I’ll let you die,” Tadlock tells the officers.
After a brief exchange with one officer, Tadlock adds, “All your family members,” before asking if she’s being recorded.
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In their report, officers note that it took Tadlock 40 seconds to stop and that she ran a red light and hit a piece of concrete.
They also note she had “bloodshot, glassy eyes and slurred speech” and that she admitted to having two drinks at a concert.
During a field sobriety test, officers say Tadlock almost fell over backwards, which she blamed on a recent eye injection.
WATCH:
Within hours, hospital administrators at Memorial Hermann Greater Heights in Houston quietly removed her from duty and suspended her pending investigation. By Monday, she was officially fired.
“Immediately upon learning of this incident on Saturday, we took swift action to suspend the employee, pending investigation. She has subsequently been terminated. The safety and privacy of our patients, visitors and workforce are our top priority, and we take such matters very seriously.”
In 2021, Tadlock was named a DAISY Award honoree in recognition of her exceptional care, compassion, and dedication during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The DAISY Award is an international honor that celebrates nurses who demonstrate extraordinary clinical skill and humanistic care.
According to the Daisy Foundation:
Crystal is an exceptional ICU nurse who always goes above and beyond when providing care for patients as well as assisting the healthcare team. Crystal always demonstrates a compassionate, caring, positive attitude towards patients, family, colleagues, and all health care disciplinary teams.
Crystal always willingly makes time to help others whenever we need her assistance, from assistance in a code or patient deteriorated situation to clean or bathing patients.
Crystal is always willing to pick up more shifts to help the team. During the pandemic, Crystal worked 5-6 days a week to assist the team and take care of patients. Crystal is not only kind to patients, patient’s families, she is also kind to all her colleagues.
