GBI Arrests Eatonton Police Chief for Battery

Milledgeville, GA (December 11, 2020) – On Friday, December 11, 2020, at approximately 11:00 a.m., Georgia Bureau of Investigation agents arrested Eatonton Police Chief Kent Lawrence, age 61, for two counts of Simple Battery and one count of Battery. 

On Wednesday, December 9, 2020, the GBI Region 6 (Milledgeville) office was requested by the Ocmulgee Judicial Circuit District Attorney Stephen Bradley to conduct an investigation regarding allegations that Eatonton Police Chief Kent Lawrence used excessive force against a female, in custody at the Eatonton Police Department.  The GBI Region 6 office immediately began conducting the investigation. 

The preliminary investigation revealed that a white female, age 58, was arrested by an Eatonton Police Office on Tuesday, December 8, at approximately 5:15 p.m. for Driving Under the Influence.  The officer transported the female to the Eatonton Police Department for processing.  While at the Eatonton Police Department, Chief Kent Lawrence used excessive force against the female, who was handcuffed at the time.      

Kent Lawrence was arrested and transported to the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office where he was processed.