Former Towns County Deputy Arrested for False Report and Oath Violation

     Austin Bradburn, a 26-year-old former deputy from Blairsville, Georgia, has been arrested by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) on charges of making a false report of a crime and violating his oath of office. The arrest stems from an incident that occurred in December 2024, when Bradburn, then a deputy with the Towns County Sheriff's Office, claimed to have been shot during a traffic stop. 

     The alleged shooting took place in Young Harris, Georgia, and initially sparked a manhunt for the supposed assailant. However, following an investigation by the GBI, it was determined that Bradburn had fabricated the entire incident. On January 21, 2025, the GBI announced Bradburn's arrest, revealing that the former deputy had been charged with filing a false report of a crime and violating his oath of office.

     The case has raised serious concerns about the misuse of law enforcement resources and the potential consequences of false reporting. Filing a false police report is a criminal offense that can result in misdemeanor or felony charges, depending on state law. In Georgia, violating the oath of office is considered a felony, carrying a potential prison sentence of one to five years.

     This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of integrity in law enforcement and the severe consequences that can result from breaching the public's trust. False reports not only waste valuable police resources but also undermine the credibility of legitimate crime reports and can cause undue stress and harm to communities. As the legal process unfolds, the case against Bradburn will likely draw significant attention from both the law enforcement community and the public.

     The outcome may have far-reaching implications for how similar cases are handled in the future and could potentially lead to stricter measures to prevent false reporting by law enforcement officers