A sheriff and a police sergeant in Georgia got into an argument over jurisdiction that resulted in the two cops threatening to arrest one another.
11Alive news identified the bickering lawmen as Sgt. Tracy James with the Hiawassee Police Department and Towns County Sheriff Ken Henderson, who were both involved in a traffic stop that called jurisdiction into question.
The conflict begins when James approaches and Henderson both try questioning a motorist who’s seated in his vehicle with its window rolled down.
“You get on my traffic stop again, I will arrest you!” James tells Henderson.
The sheriff retorts at the sergeant “I’ll arrest you right now!”
The officers then ask the motorist who’d been pulled over whether his alleged infraction occurred inside or outside of city limits. According to 11Alive, Towns County Sheriff’s Office authorities take issue with Hiawassee Police pursuing suspects outside city limits. Towns County, which hosts the city of Hiawassee, sits near Georgia’s border with North Carolina.
Both police forces reportedly use the same dispatch center, but do not share a chain of command.
[ Foul-mouthed judge suspended without pay ]
During their heated confrontation, which was recorded James’ body-cam last week, both cops drop f-bombs. Henderson demeans James by calling him a “boy” and labels him a “f–kboy” as well.
“I’m not your boy!” James said before stomping back to his squad car, tersely repeating “Thank you,” then referring to Henderson as a “motherf—er.”
11Alive reports that a secret recording obtained by the news station appears to indicate Henderson referring to Hiawassee cops as “enemies” of his office. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the Towns County District Attorney’s Office have reportedly taken an interest in the conflict over jurisdiction.
No formal investigation has been announced.
