The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) has apprehended Austin Bradburn, a former Towns County deputy, following allegations that he fabricated a story about being shot during a traffic stop. Bradburn, 26, of Blairsville, is now facing charges for filing a false report and breaching his oath. In the initial incident report, Bradburn alleged that he stopped a silver Honda sedan without a license plate on Plott Town Road and was subsequently shot during a physical altercation with the vehicle's driver, as per report by Atlanta News First.
The purported event took place on December 13, and Bradburn claimed that the suspect, described as a six-foot-tall white man, weighing about 175 pounds, failed to comply with his orders, leading to a struggle over Bradburn's firearm, during this altercation, seven shots were fired, and Bradburn was hit twice; however, the GBI's investigation discovered inconsistencies in his story Bradburn had stated in an interview with FOX 5 Atlanta that he was determined to apprehend the assailant, expressing, "I just want to catch this guy and get him caught, so no other officers are put in danger." The GBI has not released details on which parts of Bradburn's narration were false.
Further to the investigative findings, Bradburn has been charged with several counts of making false statements and violations of his oath in Union and Hall counties, the GBI's review of the case challenges the credibility of the events as originally reported by Bradburn. During their probe, the agency encouraged anyone with information about the supposed incident to call Towns County 911 or to offer tips through the GBI's tip line, mobile app, or online reporting service, according to Atlanta News First.
In the days following his reported shooting, Bradburn was the beneficiary of a GoFundMe campaign meant to support his recovery efforts, the online fundraiser has reportedly ceased accepting donations after the GBI disclosed its concerns regarding the veracity of Bradburn's account. As is customary in officer-involved shootings, the Towns County Sheriff’s Office had requested an independent investigation from the GBI that eventually led to Bradburn's arrest.
The search for the alleged shooter persists as the public and law enforcement remain without an identified suspect. The GBI refrains from detailing the whereabouts of Bradburn following his arrest, and the investigation into the incident endures with active participation from the GBI.
