Governor Suspends Walton Co. Sheriff Over Florida Arrest

LOGANVILLE, GA — Walton County Sheriff Joe Chapman has been suspended by Gov. Nathan Deal for 30 days over Chapman's arrest in May in a Florida bar.

Deal issued an executive order on Monday suspending Walton beginning on Wednesday. The suspension follows a month-long investigation by a three-member panel formed by Deal which recommended Walton be sanctioned due to "the totality of the circumstances surrounding his actions."

On May 26, Chapman was involved in an incident at a bar in Carrabelle, Florida, during which, according to an incident report, he shoved a man "in the back causing him to fall onto a table."

Chapman, the three-member review panel found, failed to report the arrest locally. He was originally charged with battery. That charge was reduced to disorderly conduct, then thrown out entirely on July 5.

The panel that recommended Chapman's suspension was made up of Attorney General Chris Carr, Hall County Sheriff Gerald Crouch and McDuffie County Sheriff Logan Marshall. Their directive, according to Deal's executive order was to investigate "criminal charges, alleged misconduct in office, or alleged incapacity" in regard to the May 26 incident.

Walton County Superior Court Judge John M. Ott will appoint someone to serve as sheriff while Chapman is suspended.

Photo via Walton County Sheriff's Office