Friday, November 22, 2002

Former Union City officer charged with assaulting girlfriend granted bond

By JOHN MUNFORD
jmunford@TheCitizenNews.com

A former Union City police officer accused of brutally assaulting his ex-girlfriend at her Fayette home was granted $150,000 bond in court Friday morning.

Samuel Howard Goodall of Union City is charged with two counts of aggravated assault, kidnapping with bodily injury and aggravated sexual battery. He has been in jail since he was originally arrested.

Det. Tracey Carroll of the Fayette County Sheriff's Department testified at Friday's bond hearing that after the July 31 assault, Goodall admitted to his then-girlfriend that he roughed up the victim. She said the victim also had what appeared to be strangulation marks around her neck.

"She had very serious lacerations to her head," Carroll said.

Goodall testified at his bond hearing that the victim attacked him during the incident. He also denied that he pointed his police-issue revolver at the victim.

"She jumped on me," Goodall said in a hushed tone.

Goodall told Superior Court Judge Johnnie L. Caldwell Jr. that he would stay away from the victim and he would return to court to face the charges.

Chief Assistant District Attorney Dan Hiatt asked Caldwell to deny bond on the case, noting that at the time of his arrest Goodall was a police officer with Union City.

After his arrest, Goodall was fired from the department, officials said.

At a court hearing earlier this year, Maj. Bruce Jordan of the Sheriff's Department testified that one of the marks on the victim's face matched up to a ring Goodall wore at the time of the incident. He also said Goodall previously accused the victim of having relationships with other men.

The couple, who once lived together, had broken off the relationship for several months prior to the assault, Carroll said.