Nashville, Ga., City Manager Hayden Hancock is off the job for now after a late-night traffic stop landed him with multiple citations, city officials confirmed. The move pulls Hancock from day-to-day city business while the situation gets a closer look at City Hall.
In a written release, the city said Hancock, who was off duty and driving his personal vehicle, was cited for driving under the influence, speeding, having an open container and failure to maintain lane. The city added that it is conducting its own internal review and has placed Hancock on administrative leave pending the outcome of that process. Those are the charges and steps laid out by the city, as reported by 13WMAZ.
City Manager’s Role And Recent Visibility
Hancock serves as Nashville’s city manager, overseeing municipal operations and projects, according to the City of Nashville official website. The position typically keeps him in the public eye, especially during emergencies and high-profile incidents.
One example came in March, when a suspicious bag downtown triggered a precautionary evacuation before authorities ultimately declared an “all clear.” That scare, which briefly emptied a city block before the bomb squad wrapped up its work, was covered in detail by a mystery bag scare and other local outlets.
Legal Process And Potential Penalties
A citation is not a conviction, and Hancock’s case now moves into the legal system, where prosecutors will decide whether to file formal charges. Georgia law treats DUI as a serious offense: penalties for impaired driving can include jail time, fines, license suspension and mandatory education or treatment programs, according to the Georgia Department of Driver Services.
Any criminal or traffic proceedings will unfold separately from the city’s internal review, which officials say will continue in parallel. The city’s release said leaders will provide public updates as the review moves forward. As 13WMAZ noted, that release remains the main source of information the city has made public so far.
