Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
OGDEN — Thomas Caygle, a former Salt Lake City police officer, was sentenced to jail time Monday, two months after he was found guilty of negligently operating his truck during an Ogden traffic accident.
Caygle, who was off-duty at the time, was captured on a dashcam driving his truck into the back of an Ogden man's car in December 2022.
The video shows the man moving his car out of traffic and in front of the nearby gas station. When he walks to the rear of his vehicle to inspect the damage to the car's rear bumper, he is struck by Caygle's truck and pinned to the tailgate by his knees. His girlfriend pounds on the hood of the truck, shouting for Caygle to back up but has to run and pull Goodman's car forward to release him.
Court documents state that witnesses at the scene said Caygle "seemed really drunk." A breathalyzer found no presence of alcohol, but blood tests found Xanax, a prescription anxiety medication, in his system, according to court records. Caygle admitted to drinking a small amount of alcohol in the form of "taster shots" before the incident, but deputy Weber County attorney Sean Brian told KSL there was not enough evidence to prove it was a factor in what unfolded.
A medical assessment by a University of Utah psychiatrist said Caygle was prescribed the medication for several years after he was diagnosed with severe post-traumatic stress disorder related to trauma in his work but stopped taking it after the December 2022 incident.
According to the assessment, Caygle worked as a police officer for 14 years before he was fired, due to the arrest, and said he "does not want to be a police officer anymore."
The 38-year-old was initially charged with aggravated assault, a third-degree felony, and negligently operating a vehicle resulting in injury, a class A misdemeanor. He opted for a bench trial with Ogden's 2nd District Judge Jason Nelson, instead of appearing in front of a jury, and was found guilty of the misdemeanor in February.
On Monday, Caygle was sentenced to 60 days in Weber County Jail and two years of supervised probation to follow. Brian said Utah Adult Probation and Parole gave the judge a recommendation of 90 days based on "the minimization of his actions" and the injuries that occurred as a result of Caygle's "misuse or reaction to medication."
Before working for the Salt Lake police department, he was employed by Ogden. Employment documents show he had previous disciplinary issues, including striking "a pedestrian improperly crossing the roadway."
