A Shelby County sheriff's deputy finds himself on the wrong side of the law after allegations have surfaced involving misuse of law enforcement databases to stalk his ex-wife. Thadius Gordon, a 38-year-old deputy with the Shelby County Sheriff's Office (SCSO), has been charged with stalking and harassment following a woman's claims that he persistently tracked her using restricted resources meant for police work.

Reports from Action News 5 indicate that Gordon was detained after he allegedly used a law enforcement database over 100 times to monitor the location of his ex-wife. This misuse of access privileges led to his charge and his being relieved from duty, though with pay, as the investigation proceeds. Gordon was released on just a $1,000 bond, prompting concerns about the gravity with which such offenses are regarded within the law enforcement community.

Adding to the troubling situation, FOX13 Memphis reported that Gordon's ex-wife, who brought the complaint to the authorities, disclosed the deputy had been sending her intimidating text messages. Specifically, she recalled receiving a message that unnervingly asked, "Where are you going?" An audit of database activity demonstrated Gordon's extensive searches for the victim's license plate information, escalating the case's severity and painting a picture of an officer stepping far beyond the bounds of acceptable conduct.

WREG added that Gordon made around 20 license plate inquiries from August 1 to August 4. The victim's fears were compounded by the fact that despite checking her vehicle for any GPS tracking devices, none were discovered, suggesting that the deputy was exploiting his privileged access to follow her movements. While the sheriff's office has confirmed Gordon's suspension and the duration of his employment since April 2014, they have refrained from commenting directly on the ongoing case.