Crime & Safety
Kemp Suspends Sheriff After DUI Arrest
An interim sheriff has been named after Gov. Brian Kemp suspended a Georgia sheriff following his DUI arrest.
GAINESVILLE, GA — A day after a Georgia sheriff was suspended following his DUI arrest, authorities on Wednesday announced his interim replacement.
Gov. Brian Kemp on Tuesday suspended Hall County Sheriff Gerald Couch for 60 days after he was arrested on charges of driving under the influence on Feb. 27.
Couch was also arrested on charges of failure to maintain lane and possession of open container of alcoholic beverage. His suspension comes after Kemp ordered an investigation on March 6.
Find out what's happening in Gainesvillefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
During Couch's suspension, Maj. Chris Matthews will serve as interim sheriff after an appointment by Hall County Chief Superior Court Judge Jason Deal of the Northeastern Judicial Circuit, according to the sheriff's office.
Matthews, who has been serving as the major of the administrative bureau since 2017, took the oath of office Wednesday morning at the Hall County Courthouse.
Find out what's happening in Gainesvillefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
"He assumes all duties and responsibilities of the Hall County Sheriff’s Office immediately," authorities said in a news release.
Matthews has been with the sheriff's office since 1984 and is the longest-serving sworn officer in the agency, authorities said. He has held the positions of jailer, deputy, sergeant, lieutenant and captain.
RELATED: Probe Into GA Sheriff Ordered After DUI Arrest
Chief Deputy Kevin Head, who assumed command of the sheriff's office in Couch's absence, was not eligible for the official interim role because he does not live in Hall County, the sheriff's office said Deal ruled.
Couch, who was driving a county vehicle at the time, was pulled over around 10:30 a.m., WANF-TV reported. The sheriff's speech was slurred, a deputy noticed "signs of impairment," the news outlet reported.
He was reportedly released from the Hall County Jail on a $1,560 bond.
The committee that investigated Couch consisted of Attorney General Christopher Carr, Greene County Sheriff Donnie Harrison and Glasscock County Sheriff Jeremy Kelley.
The investigation into Couch came at the request of the Georgia Sheriffs' Association.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
