DeKalb Sheriff Arrested In Piedmont Park, Charged With Indecency

DECATUR, GA -- DeKalb County Sheriff Jeffrey Mann was arrested Saturday night after an Atlanta police officer said he exposed himself during a late-night incident in Piedmont Park, Patch has learned. The officer observed Mann in a part of the park known for “sexual acts after dark,” according to news reports.

Mann was charged with indecency and obstruction -- both misdemeanors. The saga, which occurred about 11 p.m., included the sheriff running a quarter of a mile and into traffic to evade arrest, according to local media. After a while, Mann gave himself up and was arrested.

In a police report, the officer indicates that he did not learn until he got Mann's identification that he had a local sheriff in custody.

"I allowed the male to get approximately 7 to 10 feet from me before I used my flashlight to shine it on the male. The male immediately fled on foot. I ran behind the male while yelling, ‘Police. Stop!’" a police report, obtained by WSB-TV, said.

Mann, who has been with the DeKalb sheriff's office for a decade, bonded out of jail early Sunday. He released a statement saying that he is going to clear his name.

DeKalb Commissioner Nancy Jester, reached by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, said that the news was unbecoming of the county. “It is embarrassing,” Jester was quoted as saying. “It’s certainly not a good headline for DeKalb County ... . Now we have this, so I don’t know,” she said. “We’ll see where this takes us.”

Image via DeKalb County Sheriff's Office website