Gov. Deal Appoints Committee To Investigate DeKalb Sheriff Mann's Arrest

DECATUR, GA -- Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal has issued an executive order appointing an investigative committee to look into the arrest of DeKalb County Sheriff Jeffrey Mann. Deal announced the move in a Thursday morning tweet following the growing firestorm around the top cop in the state's fourth-largest county.

Mann is charged with indecency and obstruction of an officer in a Saturday night incident in which he allegedly exposed himself in an area of Piedmont Park known "for sexual acts after dark," according to a 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.

Deal appointed Attorney General Chris Carr, Newton County Sheriff Ezell Brown and Peach County Sheriff Terry Deese to the investigative committee. The order says that "The committee shall make a report of its investigation to me within 30 days of the date of this Executive Order."

Watch: Video Shows DeKalb Sheriff Jeffrey Mann Running From Atlanta Police Officer

The executive order follows a letter sent to the governor Wednesday by the Georgia Sheriffs' Association, imploring Deal to launch an investigation of the events and circumstances surrounding Mann's arrest.

In a letter obtained by Patch, the sheriff's association says the following:

Dear Governor Deal,

The Georgia Sheriffs' Association respectfully calls your attention to the enclosed police report dated May 6, 2017, from the Atlanta Police Department. The report indicates that DeKalb Sheriff Jeff Mann was charged with indecency and obstruction. As a result of this arrest, the sheriffs request that you immediately appoint a committee of two sheriffs and the Attorney General pursuant to O.G.C.A. 15-16-26 to investigate pending criminal charges against Sheriff Mann and to report to you within thirty days.

The letter was written by Deese, who is one of the investigative committee members.

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

While Mann has been keeping a low profile this week, his attorney told local media that his client has every intention of remaining DeKalb's sheriff.

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 and who caught the incident on security camera, feels differently. “The man is definitely unfit for his office," Brad Edmond, who lives in Midtown close to the park, told WSB-T . "He has betrayed everyone, including the people who look up to him and respect him. But, what a joke."
"I didn't know who he was when he was running, but he definitely was trying to get away from that officer who was chasing him," Edmonds told WGCL.

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."
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."

On Wednesday, video purportedly showing Mann running from the officer was released by the media. The grainy footage, taken from a Midtown homeowner's security system, could be vital evidence in a case that has made national headlines. It shows a figure purported to be Mann running, followed seconds later by a police officer wearing reflective gear.

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

Paras Griffin / Stringer / Getty Images Entertainment & Facebook / DeKalb Sheriff's Office