Charges Expected in Franklin Co Deputy Stand off

Hart County Sheriff Mike Cleveland said he expects to file charges against former Franklin County Sheriff Deputy Kevin Bowers.

Bowers is currently being treated at a North Georgia medical facility after an altercation last week.

Franklin County Sheriff Stevie Thomas said Thursday Bowers was suspended from duty after the incident.

“Last Friday morning, deputy Kevin Bowers was suspended in lieu of termination after the incident that occurred at his residence,” Thomas said. “The suspension will stand until further investigation is complete.”

The incident happened in the early morning hours last Friday, according to Cleveland, when Bowers, got into an argument with a fellow deputy at his home in Hart County.

“Deputy Whitlock was in his (Bowers’) home and he (Bowers) pulled a gun on him (Whitlock) and asked him to leave,” Cleveland said. “We’re not 100% clear on what exactly happened, but we talked to him for about four or five hours. He finally came out of the house without incident, and we took him into custody and it was over.”

Cleveland said Bowers’ wife and child were able to leave the house with Deputy Whitlock and they were not harmed.

But Sheriff Cleveland said Bowers did have a number of guns in the house and officers were concerned Bowers might be a danger to himself.

“Anytime a person is upset and has a gun behind a door, you never know what they are going to do or think,” Cleveland said. “He was just in his house and wouldn’t come out. We all talked to him and at the end of the day, he just laid his guns down and came out.”

Warrants were issued this week for Bowers.

Once released, Cleveland said Bowers will be arrested and charged with misdemeanor simple battery, family violence, and felony aggravated assault.