- A dismissed DUI case in Tooele County led to claims of political retaliation.
- Detective Andrew Goss was fired, accused of spreading rumors about the case.
- Goss and Sheriff Paul Wimmer accuse each other of politically motivated actions amid election tensions.
TOOELE — What started as a routine traffic stop in Tooele County last fall has led to accusations of politically-motivated retaliation within the sheriff's office and now the firing of a detective.
The KSL Investigators first started looking into claims about a dismissed DUI case in January, after receiving a tip from someone who was not employed by the Tooele County Sheriff's Office.
DUI dismissed
On Sept. 18, 2025, a Tooele County sheriff's deputy pulled over a vehicle for an expired registration. The police report states the deputy smelled marijuana, then discovered marijuana in the vehicle, including a THC vape in the driver's lap.
After the driver failed sobriety tests, the deputy arrested him for investigation of DUI, possession of marijuana, and an expired registration. What the deputy didn't know as he drove to the jail is that he'd just arrested one of the sheriff's relatives.
Former Tooele County detective Andrew Goss said the arresting deputy confided in him that the sheriff showed up to the jail that evening.
"He told me that the sheriff interrupted his DUI investigation by asking what he had," Goss said.
Sheriff Paul Wimmer said the investigation was wrapped up by the time he arrived, and he had a brief conversation with the arresting deputy. Records show the sheriff posted bail for his relative.
"Just like every other family, my family members are human," Wimmer said.
On Oct. 21, when the case was set for an arraignment in court, all charges in the case were dropped.
"That's suspicious, weird, and a conflict," Goss said he remembers telling the arresting deputy when he learned about the outcome of the case.
The sheriff doesn't see it that way.
"There was nothing influenced by me that would compromise the integrity of the sheriff's office," Wimmer said.
The agency's policy bars its deputies from investigating any criminal case involving one of their own members or a member's immediate family, to avoid conflicts of interest. Under the policy, those cases must be turned over to an outside agency. "Immediate family" is defined as a spouse, former spouse, child, stepchild or parent. Under those terms, the relative in this incident is not considered immediate family.
'Needs counseling'
According to the court docket, the case was dismissed by chief deputy county attorney Gary Searle with the note: "Needs to complete counseling."
In January, Searle wrote in an email to KSL that he didn't believe his office could prove the DUI charge beyond a reasonable doubt because the deputy didn't observe any dangerous driving — the initial stop was for an expired registration. Searle said toxicology results showed the driver had marijuana in his system, and he noted the driver failed field sobriety tests, but Searle said those are "subjective in nature."
He said he dismissed the possession charge based on the defendant's age, lack of criminal history and promise to complete treatment.
"Based on these factors I dismissed the matter without prejudice, meaning that the case could be refiled if he failed to complete treatment," Searle wrote. "As a matter of fact, I met with the defendant and his mother and made absolutely clear that if he did not complete treatment, I would indeed refile the matter."
Searle told KSL he did not know about the defendant's familial connection to the sheriff when he made the decision and noted they do not have the same last name.
"This case was not resolved due to any relationship with the sheriff," he said. "I would treat any similarly situated individual the same way because of his age, lack of criminal history, and enrollment in treatment."
When the KSL Investigators followed up with Searle this week to ask how he is keeping track of whether the driver completes treatment, Searle said he does not believe the vehicle registration was actually expired at the time of the stop, which would affect the legal basis for the entire case.
According to the case report KSL obtained via a public record request, the arresting deputy wrote that he observed an expired registration, "ran the license plate and confirmed the vehicle had expired registration."
Detective terminated
The KSL Investigators filed public record requests seeking documents related to the case, including any written communication. We've found no evidence the sheriff influenced the dismissal of the DUI case; however, it is now central to Goss's firing.
"I'm dumbfounded that all this happened to me in the first place," Goss said.
In late January, Goss, who was a detective in the Tooele County Sheriff's Office, said he heard the sheriff was upset with him, so he went to speak with him directly. Goss said the two sparred over whether the sheriff's actions created a conflict of interest and that comments made during the conversation led him to believe the sheriff had pre-determined that Goss was spreading rumors about the dismissed DUI case and would face punishment over it.
Wimmer said the meeting got "heated" but that he could not comment on the content of the conversation.
Goss said he then found himself the target of an internal affairs investigation and was questioned in what's known as a Garrity interview about whether he spread rumors about the dismissed DUI case.
"I said, 'I haven't done anything wrong here. It was brought to my attention.' And as the interview went on, they kept asking me the same questions, and I answered the same," Goss said.
Goss said he was placed on paid leave but then spent weeks assigned to watch security cameras in the basement of the courthouse instead of spending his time working on the roughly 30 cases he was assigned to – something he views as an unjust punishment before any finding of wrongdoing, and a waste of public resources.
"It was an embarrassment," he said. "I had to walk by people I've worked with before, attorneys, everything, had to go through the courtroom to get to the basement, so everybody saw me going through there."
On Feb. 23, Goss received a termination notice signed by the sheriff stating the internal affairs investigation determined he was not truthful during his Garrity interview — a finding that puts his certification as a peace officer on the line after a 16-year career.
"I'm terminated — my livelihood, my four kids, my wife, my house, bills — just because you're trying to cover up yourself that you're going to destroy somebody else? Sickening," Goss said.
"The investigation was conducted as per policy, state law — everything we have to adhere to," Wimmer said.
Accusations of political motivation
Both men accuse the other of being politically motivated.
Goss openly supports Ryan Carver, Wimmer's opponent in this year's election. He said the sheriff's reelection campaign was referenced during his Garrity interview.
One of the policy violations listed in his termination documentation is "improper political activity" at work. He said he did not engage in any campaign activities while on duty. The termination document alleges Goss "approached a couple different employees in an effort to advance a political candidate for sheriff while on duty."
"One of the supervisors asked me, he's like, 'So who's this Ryan Carver guy?' I said, 'Well, you can go to his house and meet him if you want. He's a good dude. I worked with him for eight years in West Valley.' That was it," said Goss.
"This was an effort to run a political campaign against me by Mr. Goss," Wimmer said.
Wimmer said he's limited in what he can say about the situation because Goss is appealing his termination, but he questioned the timing of Goss's decision to speak out.
"This case was dismissed back in October. Where was this upstanding effort to out misconduct by Mr. Goss back then?" Wimmer asked.
Wimmer said there has been no formal, independent investigation into his involvement in the DUI case because it has not been reported to any oversight entity.
Meanwhile, the fallout from an investigation into who was discussing the case has revealed two men with two very different stories. Both are now awaiting the outcome of Goss's appeal.
"I want my job back," Goss said. "I want to be doing what I've been doing for 16 years."
Have you experienced something you think just isn't right? The KSL Investigators want to help. Submit your tip at investigates@ksl.com or 385-707-6153 so we can get working for you.
