OGDEN — Thomas Caygle, a former officer with the Salt Lake City Police Department, was found not guilty of aggravated assault after a December 2022 crash that occurred while he was off duty in Weber County.
Prosecutor Sean Brian failed to convince a judge that Caygle intentionally crushed the victim's leg with his car.
Although Caygle was found not guilty of aggravated assault, he was found guilty of a lesser charge — negligently operating a motor vehicle.
Prosecutors argued Caygle was under the influence of alcohol and Xanax when he crashed into the victim twice in December 2022. The first crash was minor. The second crash left the victim with his body pinned between two vehicles.
Blood tests did not find any alcohol in Caygle's system.
Caygle's doctor testified that he wrote the Xanax prescription due to Caygle's diagnosis of generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder.
Judge Jason C. Nelson said there was no evidence the crash was intentional or that Caygle was under the influence of alcohol. He described Caygle's driving as "negligent" rather than "reckless" or "intentional."
"I don’t know why Mr. Caygle would have wanted to run (anyone) over," Judge Nelson said. "I don't believe he did... but I’m firmly convinced he was impaired."
Audio recordings from the date of the crash show Caygle had slurred speech, which Judge Nelson said he took special note of. Caygle blamed chewing tobacco in his mouth, but the judge was not convinced.
Throughout the trial, Caygle said the first crash was an accident when his foot slipped off the pedal and that the second crash was the result of a panic attack.
As the verdict was read, Caygle nodded quietly. He declined to speak with the media after the hearing.
Had he been convicted of aggravated assault, Caygle could have faced up to five years in prison. Instead, he now faces a maximum sentence of one year in jail. Sentencing is scheduled for March 18, 2024.
Prosecutors with the Weber County Attorney's Office said they respect Judge Nelson's decision.
Prior to the trial, SLCPD fired Caygle for a violation of department policy.
"I would like Thomas Caygle to never be a police officer again. I don’t think he’s capable," said the victim, who asked to not be identified. "I couldn't walk for over a week. I pretty much stayed in my apartment for a month until I recovered enough to go to physical therapy... I still, to this day, believe that he was intentionally trying to do what he did."
SLCPD Chief Mike Brown declined to comment on the verdict.
"We're not taking questions on that today," he said at a press conference. "I'm sorry. Thank you, though."