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PROVO — A special function officer with the Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office was arrested Wednesday and accused of illegally pulling over a woman and inappropriately touching her.
Daxton Jess Gustaveson, 21, of Lehi, was booked into the Utah County Jail for investigation of sexual battery, stalking, unlawful detention and impersonating a police officer.
Gustaveson, who has only been on the job a short time, was placed on administrative as soon the sheriff's office was made aware of his arrest. Thursday evening, the sheriff's office announced that his employment had been terminated.
On Wednesday, a woman reported to Provo police "that a dark colored passenger vehicle followed her off the freeway from the Orem area. The victim stated that the police officer used (his) phone, which had red and blue lights on it, to pull her over," according to a police booking affidavit.
Gustaveson, who was wearing a Salt Lake County sheriff's uniform, is accused of following the woman to her apartment, at which time he allegedly told the woman that the car she was driving had been reported as stolen. He then had the woman get out of her car and told her he needed to search her for weapons and patted her down, touching her waistline and buttocks, the affidavit states.
"Daxton unlawfully detained the female by pulling her over for a made-up violation. Daxton stalked the victim by following her to her residence and causing the victim to suffer from emotional distress. Daxton continued to touch the victim when he had no reason to," the affidavit alleges.
The arrest report notes that Gustaveson was a special function officer for the Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office at the time of his arrest, meaning he "has no law enforcement powers off-duty."
Special function officers are typically used as bailiffs at the Matheson Courthouse and as security for other government buildings. They have full law enforcement capabilities but only when they are on duty and at their assigned location.
