What started as a night off at a suburban rodeo ended in handcuffs for two Atlanta police officers, after an off-duty confrontation spiraled in the VIP area at Gas South Arena in Duluth, according to Gwinnett County authorities. Deputies say the situation escalated when one of the women allegedly threw a punch and both refused to leave after security stepped in. Each officer now faces a disorderly conduct charge, and the Atlanta Police Department has pulled them off duty while the case is reviewed.
According to WSB‑TV, the officers were identified as Courtney Pollock and Ayana Taylor, who were arrested at the Bulls, Bands & Barrels event after security asked them to separate from a man in the VIP pit. Gwinnett police told the station that when the women refused to leave, Taylor "threw a punch" at the man, and both women were described as acting "belligerent, loud and boisterous" before they were charged with disorderly conduct. The station also reported that online Gwinnett County jail records showed both women were no longer in custody by Monday afternoon.
At the Event
Bulls, Bands & Barrels is a touring rodeo-and-music production that includes Gas South Arena among its stops, blending live music, bull riding and a close-up VIP experience under one roof. The tour’s promotional materials and press distribution list Gas South Arena as a regular stop on the 2026 schedule, providing context for the scale and design of the VIP areas where the confrontation unfolded, according to a Bulls, Bands & Barrels press release distributed via GlobeNewswire.
Department Response
The Atlanta Police Department told WSB‑TV it has relieved both officers of duty and placed them on administrative leave while it carries out an internal review. In a statement reported by the station, the department said, "The Atlanta Police Department holds all members of our organization to the highest standards of professionalism, integrity, and conduct, both on and off duty."
What The Charge Means
Disorderly conduct in Georgia, as discussed in legal analyses and case law interpreting O.C.G.A. § 16-11-39, covers violent or tumultuous behavior and can include unprovoked "fighting words" or any act likely to cause an immediate breach of the peace. Legal guides note the offense is typically treated as a misdemeanor and can bring fines, probation or jail time, depending on how prosecutors file the case and what facts emerge in court. Outcomes can vary widely by circumstance and jurisdiction.
Next Steps
Gwinnett prosecutors will decide how to move forward on the disorderly conduct charges, while the Atlanta Police Department’s internal affairs process will sort out any departmental discipline. Both officers remain off duty while those parallel processes play out, with the criminal case and internal review operating on separate tracks and timetables.
