DeKalb Sheriff's Arrest Met With Disbelief, Disappointment

DECATUR, GA -- Days after he was arrested for allegedly exposing himself in Piedmont Park, DeKalb County Sheriff Jeffrey Mann's representatives say he is prepared to fight the charges.

Mann was detained shortly after 11 p.m. Saturday by an Atlanta police officer after the policeman observed a man exposing himself in an area of the park known for “sexual acts after dark,” according to the police report. SIGN UP: To get notified of the local news like this, click here to sign up for the Decatur Patch. Or find your Atlanta-area town here. Or, if you have an iPhone, download the free Patch app.

While he didn't report to work Monday, Mann's attorney told local media that his client has every intention of remaining the top cop of DeKalb.

DeKalb Sheriff Vows To Clear His Name After Indecency Arrest

“Sheriff Mann will continue to run the DeKalb County Sheriff's Office at the level of excellence it is known for and in keeping with what the citizens of DeKalb County expect and deserve,” Pines told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution in an e-mail. “He asks that you respect that this is a personal matter, which should have no bearing on the DeKalb County Sheriff's Office and its staff.”

But many residents have expressed a mix of shock and awe at the news involving Mann, with many believing the allegations and some being a bit more cautious. Mann, for his part, has called the incident a misunderstanding and said that he is working with the city of Atlanta to clear his name.

One resident, whose home Mann was arrested in front of, feels differently. “The man is definitely unfit for his office," Brad Edmond, who lives in Midtown close to the park, told WSB-TV. "He has betrayed everyone, including the people who look up to him and respect him. But, what a joke."

Angela Moore, a former publicist of Mann, said that she is troubled by the charges but remains steadfastly behind the sheriff. "I don't believe the allegations," she told Channel 2 Action News. "Nothing is ever as straight as it seems. There could be a million reasons for this man to be in the park. If I were an attorney, I could argue that all the way out the courtroom door."

To make matters worse for the sheriff, a purported video of the incident has been released to the media.

A statement sent to local media late Monday from a DeKalb representative said this about Mann:

"Sheriff Mann would like to thank his supporters for the many phone calls and prayers he received over the weekend. While Sheriff Mann would like to address his supporters and the public, I have instructed him not to make any statements regarding the ordinance violations he is facing. Similarly, as is my general practice, I will not discuss the charges at this time.
"Sheriff Mann will continue to run the DeKalb County Sheriff's Office at the level of excellence it is known for and in keeping with what the citizens of DeKalb County expect and deserve. He asks that you respect that this is a personal matter, which should have no bearing on the DeKalb County Sheriff's Office and its staff. He has great respect for the men and women of law enforcement and he asks that you continue your support of them and the public service they provide."

The Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council, made up of public officials across Georgia, has launched an investigation into the incident, Patch has learned. The council has the power to revoke a law enforcement officer's certification, which could effectively halt Mann's career.

During Saturday's incident, the officer shined his flashlight on the man, which sparked a panic and he "immediately fled on foot," causing the policeman to give chase.

"I allowed the male to get approximately 7 to 10 feet from me before I used my flashlight to shine it on the male. The male immediately fled on foot. I ran behind the male while yelling, ‘Police. Stop!’" a police report said.

Mann ran into traffic, crossing 10th Street and even stopped to tie his shoe, the report says. After he realized, that he couldn't shake the officer, Mann gave up. While detained in handcuffs, the man allegedly asked to speak with the officer's supervisor, an "Officer Peek," according to WXIA-TV. But the officer replied that Peek was not his supervisor. When the man asked to go to his car to retrieve his ID, the officer declined, citing safety reasons.

In the report, the officer indicates that he did not learn that he had a local sheriff in custody until he was able to verify Mann's identification at the APD precinct at CNN Center.

Mann, who has been with the office for a decade but elected sheriff in 2014, bonded out of jail early Sunday.

Image via DeKalb County Sheriff' / Facebook