Police Officer Fired After Being Charged In Cherokee Rape

ATLANTA, GA – An Atlanta Police officer accused of sexually assaulting an Acworth woman was fired Monday, authorities said.

The former officer, 32-year-old Lionel Dely, was charged with rape when investigators said he attacked a woman in her Acworth apartment last month, Cherokee County Sheriff’s officials said.

Atlanta Police professional standards officials worked with investigators in Cherokee County as they determined that there was evidence supporting the charges, and Dely turned himself in to Sheriff’s deputies, authorities said.

Dely was immediately suspended without pay when the charges were reported to Atlanta Police. He later faced an emergency hearing with Atlanta Police Chief Rodney Bryant and other department leaders.

Monday, Atlanta Police said the decision was made to terminate Dely.