Sheriff of Georgia under review following intense confrontation with law enforcement officer locally
In a tense incident that unfolded in December 2024, a confrontation between Towns County Sheriff Kenneth Henderson and Hiawassee, Georgia, Police Officer Jose Carvajal has sparked a call for a special prosecutor.
The incident occurred during a critical moment when Carvajal, a combat veteran, was providing assistance to Deputy Austin Bradburn, who had been shot in the leg. According to reports, Carvajal accidentally picked up Bradburn's gun during the chaos and put it back in the holster. However, other emergency personnel advised him to secure it as evidence.
The confrontation between Henderson and Carvajal escalated when Carvajal refused to touch the gun until the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) arrived. This decision seemed to agitate Henderson, who reportedly put his hands on Carvajal.
This incident reflects ongoing tensions between Henderson and the Hiawasse Police Department. In fact, in 2022, Henderson interrupted a Hiawassee police traffic stop, arguing the officer was outside his jurisdiction.
The fallout from the incident has been significant. Austin Bradburn, the wounded deputy, was later fired by the sheriff's office. Multiple deputies expressed shock and dismay at Henderson's actions, with one deputy, Strickland, resigning to join the Georgia State Patrol.
Strickland criticized Henderson's actions and priorities, stating that he was more concerned with the city of Hiawassee than the shot deputy. Henderson, when approached by our website Investigates, declined an interview, citing the GBI investigation.
Enotah Circuit District Attorney Jeff Langley is leading the prosecution of the wounded deputy, but has recused himself from investigating Henderson. Langley has requested a special prosecutor, independent of their local jurisdiction, to handle further decisions in connection with the GBI's investigation.
The Prosecuting Attorney's Council (PAC) of Georgia has not yet appointed a conflict attorney. Meanwhile, Towns County Fire Chief Harold Copeland suggested deputies get Carvajal to admit on camera that he picked up the gun, which would help the sheriff with PR.
Interestingly, warrants show that Bradburn was arrested in January for filing a false report of a crime, as his testimony was refuted by his patrol car's laptop's GPS data. Carvajal was released without charges after spending more than 20 minutes handcuffed in a patrol car.
The incident has also highlighted Henderson's alleged berating of his staff. He was recorded berating his staff for eating lunch with city police officers while failing to acknowledge him when he entered the same restaurant.
This complex web of events has certainly raised questions and concerns within the community and law enforcement circles. As the investigation continues, the community awaits the appointment of a special prosecutor to further decisions related to the GBI investigation against Towns County Sheriff Kenneth Henderson.
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