By Tyler Estep
LAWRENCEVILLE — A now-former
Gwinnett County police officer was arrested Sunday following an incident
involving a handgun and a witness to a crime.
Ryan Christopher Head, a
five-year veteran of the Gwinnett County Police Department, was arrested Sunday
and charged with simple assault and disorderly conduct, both misdemeanors. He
was released on bond the same day and resigned in lieu of termination, police
spokesman Cpl. Jake Smith said.
Head’s arrest stemmed from the
department’s investigation into a Saturday vehicle accident.
According to police, Head was a
passenger in the at-fault vehicle during a hit-and-run. A witness reportedly
called 911, followed the vehicle and blocked it in in a nearby cul-de-sac.
“Witnesses
reported that Head exited the vehicle, produced a handgun and tapped on the
witness’ window with it,” Smith said. “There was no physical confrontation, no
shots were fired, and the weapon was not pointed directly at any person.”
According to warrants obtained
by the Daily Post, that incident happened between 10 and 10:15 p.m. on Great
Oaks Drive, a residential street just off Webb Gin House Road near
Lawrenceville. Further details about the hit-and-run — including the nature of
the crash, the location and the identity of the driver — were not released
Monday.
Smith said Head was “verbally
belligerent” but did not physically resist arrest by fellow GCPD officers.
“(Expletive) you,” Head told a
responding officer, according to warrants. “Don’t (expletive) with me. I’m a
(expletive) cop.”
Listed as an Auburn resident,
Head was booked into the Gwinnett County jail at 12:21 a.m. Sunday and released
about eight hours later on $3,700 bond.
“Per Gwinnett County’s Merit
Rules, Head was served with a letter noting the department’s intention to
terminate his employment on Sunday, June 1, 2014,” Smith said in a news
release. “He resigned in lieu of termination.”
Smith said no further
information would be released Monday. Initial incident reports were not yet
available.
The investigation is ongoing
and officials said the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council
would be “notified of this arrest and the results of the investigation.”