A Georgia police chief and reporting officer have been arrested and charged with false imprisonment under color of legal process, theft by extortion, and violation of oath by a public officer.
Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) spokesman Greg Ramsey says that Police Chief David King, 58, and officer Blake Scheff, 26, of the White Police Department were found to have been unlawfully arresting people and then subsequently reducing the charges to collect fines for nearly four years.
Occurring between December 2011 and April 2015, King and Scheff’s arrest comes after the FBI and GBI executed search warrants at the White Police Department and White City Hall on January 21. Both officers are being held at the Bartow County Jail.
Officially, King is charged with two counts of false imprisonment under color of legal process, two counts of theft by extortion and one count of violation of oath by a public officer.
Scheff is charged with one count of false imprisonment under color of legal process, one count of theft by extortion and one count of violation of oath by a public officer.
It is not known at this time how many victims are involved in the case, nor much money was extorted by the two officers.
Upon completion of the criminal investigation, the case will be turned over to the Bartow County District Attorney’s Office.
This story will be updated as new details are made public.
