Bartow Schools Police Chief On Leave Following Alleged Accident

CARTERSVILLE, GA -- The story surrounding an alleged traffic accident involving the Bartow County Schools police chief has taken a strange turn, as questions are mounting over what exactly happened in front of Cass High School early Monday morning.

Dan Knowles has been placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation, said school system spokesperson Alisha Evans.

"That is standard procedure," she added. "Since it is under investigation, I can’t comment any further."

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation has been called in by Bartow County District Attorney Rosemary Greene to investigate the situation, said GBI spokesperson Bahan Rich.

Evans previously told Patch that Knowles was "side-swiped" by a vehicle while directing traffic Oct. 23 in front of the school on Cass-White Road at Colonel Way. The Georgia State Patrol, which is investigating the alleged accident, said the incident remains under investigation "due to conflicting statements."

The driver of the vehicle in question, Dawn Wright Teer of Cartersville, shared with Patch screenshots of comments she made on a Facebook status update posted by Knowles that has since been deleted.

In the now-deleted post, Teer asks Knowles to include the fact that he is unsure how he hurt his knee "and you may have injured it when you were coming towards my car."

In the same posts, Knowles replies, stating "The minor injury I received could have happened by incidental contact with the right front of the vehicle or as I turned to move." Knowles also responded to allegations that Teer allegedly left the scene of the incident.

"I was trying to get her to stop when the incident occurred," he added. "She did initially leave the area of the intersection, but went to the school and called 9-1-1. I found out several minutes later."

Teer also shared with Patch damage he said was caused when Knowles allegedly threw a flashlight into her rearview window, which she claimed happened "in a fit of rage." She said two small children were in tow when the flashlight came crashing into her vehicle.

The Georgia State Patrol said no new updates are available in its investigation.

Images via Dawn Teer