Police briefs

Officer sex assault case goes to trial

The case of a West Jordan police officer accused of sexually assaulting a woman he was supposed to be transporting to the hospital is going to trial.

Third District Judge Judith Atherton on Friday set a three-day trial beginning March 31 for Nelson Tuatagaloa, 34.

On Sept. 29, 2008, Tuatagaloa was on duty and in uniform when he responded to a call of a woman who had been drinking and was considered suicidal, according to court documents.

Tuatagaloa took the woman into custody to allegedly drive her to Jordan Valley Hospital, 3580 W. 9000 South, for a medical examination.

But before he took the woman inside the hospital, Tuatagaloa drove to a dark area of the parking lot and kissed and sexually assaulted the victim, according to the charges.

He was placed on unpaid administrative leave following his arrest. Tuatagaloa resigned from the police department earlier this year.

— Pat Reavy

Alleged abduction attempt lacks clues

LINDON — Despite swirling rumors of an attempted abduction in Lindon, police officers have found no evidence to support the story of a 14-year-old girl.

The girl told police she was walking home Wednesday night when a man jumped out of the bushes in the area of 400 N. 835 East and grabbed her, said Lindon Police Chief Cody Cullimore.

She said the man carried her about two blocks down the road toward the Murdock Canal, Cullimore said.

However, when a car drove by and illuminated the man in the headlights, the girl said he dropped her and slid down the canal bank and ran north, Cullimore said.

The girl told police she called her boyfriend and waited to get picked up on the canal bank, rather than walk home, Cullimore said.

However, despite scouring the canal bank and looking for evidence of someone sliding down and running through, police can't find any clues, Cullimore said.

"We're doing everything we can, but we're not finding credible evidence that we can use to continue this investigation," he said.

— Sara Israelsen-Hartley

Woman made up story of stabbing