Kemp Suspends GA Sheriff, Orders New Misconduct Investigation

ATLANTA, GA — Gov. Brian Kemp has suspended embattled Towns County Sheriff Kenneth Henderson after a state-appointed investigative committee began looking into new allegations of misconduct.

The 60-day suspension, which took effect immediately, was ordered Sunday through an executive order signed by Kemp.

According to the executive order, allegations of misconduct involving Henderson were brought to the governor's attention Friday.

The allegations are separate from both a previous misconduct investigation ordered in September 2025 and criminal charges reviewed under a separate executive order issued in December 2025, Kemp said.

The governor on Saturday appointed a three-member committee consisting of Attorney General Christopher Carr, Coweta County Sheriff Lenn Wood and Newton County Sheriff Ezell Brown to investigate the allegations.

The committee was directed to report its findings within 30 days.

Unrelated to the new misconduct investigation, Henderson has been no stranger to controversy after it was widely reported in May that he had been indicted for a second time on seven criminal counts.

These charges stem from a December 2024 confrontation with Hiawassee Police Officer José Carvajal at the scene where a Towns County deputy had been shot.

According to prosecutors, Henderson allegedly shoved Carvajal, unlawfully detained and arrested him and violated his oath of office after the officer picked up the wounded deputy's firearm while rendering emergency aid.

Investigators allege Carvajal was attempting to preserve evidence and assist the injured deputy when Henderson accused him of tampering with evidence.

Henderson faces three counts of violation of oath by a public officer, two counts of false imprisonment (including one under color of law), one count of simple battery on a police officer and one count of simple battery.

The case was initially delayed after it was discovered that an ineligible grand juror had participated in the first indictment but a new grand jury returned identical charges in May.

Henderson has pleaded not guilty to all of the charges.

Kemp's latest executive order specifically states the new allegations are "separate and distinct" from the conduct underlying Henderson's pending criminal indictment but did not provide further details on the allegations.