The wife of a Georgia man who is running for county sheriff has been arrested on charges of sending harassing emails, in what the couple claims is harassment by the current sheriff.
Robert Hawes, a 30-year law enforcement veteran, recorded a video of his wife Gerrian being taken into police custody at their home in Clayton on Wednesday. In the video, Robert says: 'Sheriff Victor Hill has been harassing us so now they're locking my wife up for harassing emails because she sent the email telling him "blessings and love".'
Gerrian described the alleged 'harassing email' as containing the phrases 'Love is king, where there is love, fear cannot exist' and 'blessings'. Robert claims the email was in response to allegations made by Hill that Hawes' sons had stolen their father's department-issued gun and tried to sell it at a pawn shop in 2014.
Robert announced his candidacy to unseat Hill on August 10, writing on Facebook that he has 'witnessed and watched good people’s careers, lives, families and reputations be destroyed by our sheriff'. He added that Hill 'has created an environment of fear and intimidation'.
Hill, who has served as Clayton County Sheriff since 2013, has a controversial history. When he first took office in 2005, he fired 27 employees and had snipers posted on the roof as they were escorted out. In 2012, he was acquitted of racketeering charges.
Gerrian's bond was set at $1,500 on Thursday morning, and she was expected to be released that afternoon.
