GBI limiting its probe of Chattahoochee Hills Police Department

By ELIZABETH RICHARDSON erichardson@newnan.com The Georgia Bureau of Investigation will not be investigating allegations against the Chattahoochee Hills police chief relating to underage drinking but will be investigating the Chattahoochee Hills Police Department as it relates to "mishandling of evidence." The investigation request came to the GBI from the Fulton County District Attorney's office several weeks ago, GBI Public Information Officer John Bankhead said Thursday.
The crux of the complaint was that "evidence was found in a location it should not have been," according to Bankhead. The GBI's role is to collect evidence and conduct interviews. The investigation is ongoing. "We're fact collectors," said Bankhead. "We will turn over our findings to the DA." The district attorney will review the case and determine if a crime was committed and what, if any, course of action to take. Bankhead said the GBI is not investigating criminal allegations being leveled against Chattahoochee Hills Fire/Police Chief Damon Jones, despite the Coweta County Sheriff's Office's recent request. "The GBI does not investigate allegations that are misdemeanors," said Bankhead. "We hardly have enough agents to investigate felonies." According to the Coweta County Sheriff's Office's investigation report, Jones was anonymously accused of providing alcohol to an underage female employee, allowing sex parties with employees to take place at his Newnan residence and being involved in questionable behavior with a young girl at the fire department. "The allegations are false," Jones said through a written statement Wednesday.

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