Former Anniston Police Officer arrested on sex abuse charges

A former Anniston police officer was charged Thursday with sexually abusing a child under the age of 12. 39-year-old Thomas Anthony Gassaway of Wellington is accused of sexually abusing a girl from November 2009 until July, according to the warrant for his arrest. Anniston police Chief Shane Denham said the former patrol officer of five years resigned on July 23. Denham said that when his office found out several weeks ago that the Alabama Bureau of Investigation was looking into abuse allegations, Gassaway was placed on administrative leave. The chief said his office conducted an internal investigation, but he would not discuss its findings. Gassaway is being held in the Cleburne County Jail under a half million dollar cash bond.