Post by WaTcHeR on Apr 19, 2006 9:35:48 GMT -5
Officer Brian Christopher Dublin
04/19/2006 - A Forsyth County Sheriff's deputy is on paid administrative leave after his arrest over the weekend for reportedly pointing a gun at another motorist in an apparent fit of road rage, authorities said Tuesday.
Brian Christopher Dublin, 23, of Gainesville was charged Saturday with two counts of pointing a gun at another, Gainesville Police Lt. Chad White said.
Forsyth County Sheriff Ted Paxton said the first-year deputy was not on duty at the time of the incident and the gun he reportedly pointed is believed to be his department-issued weapon.
"We're still trying to get to the bottom of this," Paxton said. "We're in fact-finding mode right now, so we had to get (Dublin) off the street."
Dublin posted $2,000 bond and was released from the Hall County Detention Center about 5 p.m. Saturday, jail records show.
White said the incident happened about 2 p.m. after a car pulled out in front of Dublin on Dawsonville Highway (Ga. 53) near McEver Corners shopping center.
A confrontation followed in a nearby parking lot, where the off-duty deputy reportedly pointed a handgun at two people in the other vehicle, White said. No shots were fired.
Paxton said he had not spoken with Dublin, but that the deputy would remain on paid administrative leave pending an internal affairs investigation that could take about a week.
Dublin posted bond prior to his first court appearance hearing and will not have a preliminary hearing, officials with Hall County Magistrate Court said. The case will be sent to State Court, where no date has been set.
The driver of the other vehicle, who did not want his name used, said Tuesday that he had pulled in front of Dublin and nearly caused a wreck on Dawsonville Highway.
He said Dublin swerved to avoid his vehicle and then began "screaming and cussing" at him and his wife.
The off-duty deputy pulled in front of their vehicle, he said, slamming on the brakes twice before stopping at a convenience store.
The man said he pulled in behind Dublin at the store "to tell him to relax." Dublin, who he said was not wearing a shirt and had a small child in his vehicle, then pointed a pistol at the couple as they came alongside.
The driver said he drove off after seeing the gun and called 911. He then turned around and followed Dublin to Caswyck Lanier Club off Dawsonville Highway.
Police arrived minutes later at the apartment complex and began searching for Dublin. They found the deputy and the man was able to identify the weapon.