DAWSON — According to published reports, Dawson Police Chief Charlie Whitehead was indicted earlier this week by a Terrell County grand jury for making false statements and writings. The charge stems from a stolen trailer that Whitehead said he had inspected, but did not.
The man who is accused of stealing the trailer, Christopher J. Peters, was also indicted on charges of theft by taking, criminal use of an article with an altered identification mark, affixing materials to conceal identity and two counts of making a false statement. He and Whitehead reportedly turned themselves in to authorities, and were released on bond. Two others were also indicted in the case, Monica Dee Johnson and Christopher J. Robinson on several charges relative to the case.
The indictments came after an investigation by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. All four will be arraigned later this month.
Whitehead served with the Americus Police Department from 1972 until he retired in 2001. The last seven of those years, he served as chief.
— Beth Alston