Former Georgia High School Football Star Jailed in Ohio for Body Slamming Officer

According to reports out of Cedar Groves, Ohio, a former Georgia high school football standout who now plays for Eastern Kentucky has been arrested on nine different charges after he allegedly body slammed a police officer during an encounter.

The incident began with a 911 call when an employee of a local business called in to explain that the man would not leave the premises despite being asked several times. He was reportedly behaving very aggressively and was possibly under the influence of narcotics. When police arrived, the aggressive behavior escalated which led to the officer being body slammed by the man. He was arrested on charges of two counts of obstruction and two counts of disorderly conduct as well as multiple other felonies.

Even though this incident took place in Ohio, as a Georgia DUI Lawyer, I will outline the law behind the offense of disorderly conduct in Georgia because the laws are very similar.

Disorderly Conduct in Georgia

Disorderly Conduct in Georgia is defined by Georgia Law in O.C.G.A. §16-11-39 by outlining four situations that qualify as such conduct.

A person commits the offense of disorderly conduct when such person commits any of the following:

(1) Acts in a violent or tumultuous manner toward another person whereby such person is placed in reasonable fear of the safety of such person's life, limb, or health;

(2) Acts in a violent or tumultuous manner toward another person whereby the property of such person is placed in danger of being damaged or destroyed;

(3) Without provocation, uses to or of another person in such other person's presence, opprobrious or abusive words which by their very utterance tend to incite to an immediate breach of the peace, that is to say, words which as a matter of common knowledge and under ordinary circumstances will, when used to or of another person in such other person's presence, naturally tend to provoke violent resentment, that is, words commonly called "fighting words"; or

(4) Without provocation, uses obscene and vulgar or profane language in the presence of or by telephone to a person under the age of 14 years which threatens an immediate breach of the peace.

Disorderly conduct is classified as misdemeanor offense. That means that if someone is arrested and convicted of disorderly conduct, then the punishment can include up to 12 months in jail and up to $1000 in fines.

Practice Note

If you have been arrested for a serious traffic violation such as DUI in Georgia or if you have been arrested for an alcohol or drug related offense, call our offices now. We can help you today.