A Salt Lake City police officer is facing charges after what appears to be a relentless pursuit of contact with his ex-girlfriend, illuminating not just the dangers of personal harassment but the potential misuse of authority by law enforcement personnel. Thomas Douglas Goodsell, 40, has been slapped with one count of stalking a current or former cohabitant, a third-degree felony, as per documents filed by the Salt Lake County Attorney General's office on May 23, according to KSLTV.
The situation began unraveling when B.G., whose full name has been withheld, ended her relationship with Goodsell in November 2024 and subsequently faced a barrage of attempts from him to reach her through various digital mediums, spanning text, email, and several applications including Instagram and Venmo, this relentless contact reportedly continued even after she expressly requested that Goodsell cease communication on multiple occasions on January 3, January 17, and January 22, Goodsell, who is alleged to have utilized up to ten different phone numbers in his efforts to contact B.G., as stated to the attorney general's office, according to FOX13.
In addition to these communication attempts, emails from Goodsell reportedly contained references to his own mental health and suicidal ideation, with one message reading, "[Goodsell's dog] will probably be yours by the end of the day. Please give her so much loves, she has already been a mess ... I love you. Goodbye," as reported by KUTV. The charges underscore the frightening reality that B.G. had to face, which involved her undergoing the lengths of changing her phone number, her email address, and even asking her workplace to filter communications in an attempt to evade Goodsell's persistent outreach.
Officials, highlighting the severity of the case, pointed out the increased risk of intimate partner homicide associated with stalking behaviors, citing it to be three times more likely with such conduct, this looming threat escalated to the point where B.G. expressed concerns for personal safety, fearing that her life was in danger and could end if the stalking continued, as described in the filed court documents and statements acquired by the aforementioned outlets. For now, despite the request by the attorney general's office that Goodsell be held without bail for the safety of both himself and the victim, he is not currently being held in the Salt Lake County Jail, per KUTV.
