Officer said he was shot in line of duty
Austin Bradburn
Staff
Reports
A former Towns County Sheriff’s Deputy faces multiple charges in connection to an alleged incident in which the officer claimed he had been shot by a suspect during an early morning traffic stop.
The GBI arrested Austin Bradburn, 26, of Blairsville, on Jan. 21 and charged him with false report of a crime and violation of oath of office in Towns County, according to a release from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.
Bradburn was additionally arrested on multiple counts of false statements and violation of oath of office in Union and Hall Counties.
The GBI did not reveal which of Bradburn’s claims were false.
The charges stem from a Dec. 13, 2024 report that Bradburn was shot during a traffic stop on Plottown Road in Young Harris.
“The GBI conducted a thorough and independent investigation which revealed information to support the charges against Bradburn,” according to the release that included Kim Williams listed as the Special Agent in charge.
The GBI’s original release in December asked for help in identifying the alleged suspect who was described as a white man, about 6 feet tall, 170-180 pounds. He was reportedly driving a 2010 or similar model silver Honda four-door sedan.
The release further stated that the deputy and the man fought over the deputy’s gun and the deputy was shot. The man drove away from the area in the Honda and did not take the deputy’s gun.
Bradburn was transported to a hospital for treatment of non life-threatening injuries, according to initial reports. It is not clear how the injuries occurred.
A Gofundmepage was also set up at the time but has been taken down.
In a post on Bradburn’s Facebook page that included his photo, this message had been posted in December: “As most of you know I was shot in Towns County last night.”
In that post a “brother in blue” was thanked for staying by Bradburn’s side and applying a tourniquet to his leg to stop the bleeding. He also thanked other “fellow officers who arrived on scene to administer help and who are looking for the suspect!”
The Towns County Sheriff’s Office did not post details of the report this week but instead provided a link to the GBI’s updated news release.
Bradburn’s Facebook page listed his employment with the Towns County Sheriff’s Office as beginning September 2024.
The investigation is ongoing. You can also submit a tip to the GBI by calling 800-597-(8477, submitting an online report at: https://gbi.georgia.gov/submit-tips-online or downloading the See Something, Send Something mobile app.