Towns County Deputies arrested for drive-by shooting
By JOAN CROTHERS Towns Sentinel Editor

In a statement released to the press Tuesday, July 17, 2007 the Towns County Sheriff's Office stated that the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) had issued warrants for the arrest of Chief Deputy Eddie Osborn, 41, and part-time Deputy Jess Gibson, 56. Both men are being held in the Lumpkin County jail with no bond posted as of press time. The Sheriff's Office said they were transported to Lumpkin County as a courtesy to Towns, not keeping their deputies in their own jail. Gibson was arrested Monday and charged with 1 Count False Statements,1 Ct. Violation of Oath by a Public Officer, and 2 Cts. of Aggravated Assault. Chief Deputy Osborn turned himself in on Tuesday morning with charges filed against him of 1 Count False Statements, 1 Ct. Influencing a Witness, 1 Ct. Possession of a Firearm during Commission of a Felony, 1 Ct. Tampering With Evidence, 1 Ct. Violation of Oath by a Public Officer, and 2 Cts. of Aggravated Assault. [In Georgia there is no charge of Attempted Murder, that is listed as Aggravated Assault.]

The two were arrested because of involvement in the shooting incident on Cynth Creek on July 9, 2007 reported in the Towns Sentinel as a drive-by shooting. Fourteen rounds were fired into the living quarters of Garry Dean around midnight that date, but he and an employee were not hit. The GBI was called at that time to investigate the incident.

In a Tuesday press conference Sheriff Rudy Eller said he had no plans at the moment to put anyone else in Chief Deputy Osborn's position. Osborn has been with the Sheriff's Office for 11 years. Gibson worked for the Sheriff's Office back in the 70's and had been working for them again for just a few months in a part-time capacity. "We've told you all we know," said Eller. "If the GBI tells us more, we'll let you know. They are doing the investigating."