Dealer calls time on player

[judgesmails]

$2/5 NL at Red Rock Friday night.

Folded around to button, who limps. SB raises to $15, BB calls, button calls.

Flop K84 rainbow.

Checks around.

Turn 8. SB bets 40, BB folds, Button raises another 40. Pot $125.

River 10 (no possible flush). SB bets 70, Button raises to 200 (has antoher 350 behind). SB raises all-in and covers.

Button is not sure what to do. He thinks for about 2 minutes. None of the players speak up and ask for the clock. It does not seem like it is really out of line to take this time on occasion in a big pot.

The dealer decides to warn the player that he needs to decide soon, or HE will call the clock on him. Player apologizes and says it is a tough decision and acknowledges that he will need to decide soon.

15-20 seconds later the dealer calls the floor over and asks him to put the player on the clock. The floor tells the player he has 1 minute. When he starts counting down the last ten seconds the player, appearing to feel pressured, calls.

He picks of a bluff and wins a big pot. The player who made the bluff was very upset the DEALER called time and may have influenced action and the outcome of the hand.

I have never seen a dealer call time on a player when none of the players ask for it. Is this acceptable practice? All of us at the table felt it was way out of line.