White Police Chief, Officer Charged With Extortion, False Imprisonment

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WHITE, GA -- The Georgia Bureau of Investigation has arrested the police chief and an officer of the Bartow County town of White.

Agents on Wednesday, March 2 arrested Chief David Johnny King, 58, and Blake Douglas Scheff, 26, on charges of false imprisonment under color of legal process, theft by extortion and violation of oath by a public officer, the agency said.

Wednesday’s arrests come on the heels of an investigation launched Oct. 28, 2015, by the GBI at the request of the Bartow County District Attorney’s Office.

The agency, along with the FBI, executed search warrants Jan. 21 at White City Hall and the White Police Department in connection to the case.

According to the GBI, the chief and the officer are accused of arresting citizens on “fabricated charges” and reducing those charges to a citation, which would allow them to collect fines.

The GBI states the incidents occurred between December 2011 and April 2015. Specifically, the individual charges are outlined as follow:

David King:

• Count 1 (false imprisonment under color of legal process): On April 25, 2015, Lois Kitchens was arrested in Bartow County for cruelty to children in the first degree, a crime she did not commit. King is accused of advising Scheff to swear out the warrant.
• Count 2 (False imprisonment under color of legal process): On March 31, 2012, Brittny Brown was arrested in Bartow County for felony deposit account fraud, a crime that she did not commit.
• Count 3 (Theft by extortion): On April 22, 2015, King allegedly told Scheff to speak with the Kitchens’ family about accepting a disorderly conduct citation instead of swearing out state warrants. Nigel Brett, Lois Kitchens’ husband, was told that the family could accept a disorderly conduct citation, pay $1,000 fine and White police would not pursue felony state warrants against Kitchens.
• Count 4 (Theft by extortion): On Dec. 31, 2011, Brittny Brown was told that she could accept a disorderly conduct citation, pay $1,000 fine and the agency would not pursue felony state charges against her.
• Count 5 (Violation of oath by public officer): Between the dates of December 2011 and April 2015 Chief King violated his oath of office when he committed theft by extortion and false imprisonment.

Blake Scheff:

• Count 1 (false imprisonment under color of legal process): On April 25, 2015, Lois Kitchens was arrested in Bartow County for cruelty to children in the degree, a crime she did not commit. Officer Scheff had sworn out the arrest warrant at Chief King’s request.
• Count 2 (theft by extortion): On April 22, 2015, Nigel Brett, Lois Kitchens’ husband, was allegedly told by Scheff that the Kitchens could accept a disorderly conduct citation, pay $1,000 fine and police would not pursue felony state warrants against her.
• Count 3 (violation of oath by public officer): On the same day, Scheff allegedly violated his oath of office when he committed theft by extortion and false imprisonment.

Both King and Scheff have been booked into the Bartow County Jail on these charges, and are expected to post bond. Once the criminal investigation is complete, it will be turned over to the Bartow County District Attorney’s Office for any further action.

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Photo: from left, Blake Scheff and David King. Credit: Bartow County Jail.