The GBI arrested Jackson County Sheriff’s Deputy John Pursley, 53, of Jefferson, and charged him with two counts of simple assault and one count of violation of oath of public officer stemming from an incident that happened May 10.
Pursley turned himself into the Jackson County Jail without incident.
On May 10, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office asked the GBI to investigate a use of force incident that occurred inside the jail.
According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the investigation indicated that Pursley physically assaulted an inmate in the jail after an argument between the two of them.
The GBI will continue this independent investigation. Once complete, it will be provided to the Jackson County District Attorney for prosecution.
Thom Chandler
Thom Chandler is the editor of The Georgia Sun and has been writing, editing and managing websites and blogs since 1995. He is a lifelong Georgian and one of those increasingly rare Atlanta natives.
