Georgia sheriff suspended after being accused of exposing himself to police officer in park

ATLANTA — Gov. Nathan Deal on Monday suspended DeKalb County Sheriff Jeffrey Mann, who was arrested by Atlanta police last month on indecent exposure charges. 

The governor had appointed a committee to investigate the charges against Mann. The committee, comprising state Attorney General Chris Carr, Newton County Sheriff Ezell Brown and Peach County Sheriff Terry Deese, completed their investigation last Thursday and delivered their findings and recommendation to Deal's office. 

After the end of the committee's investigation, the governor decided to follow its recommendation that Mann be suspended for 40 days, effective Tuesday. 

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Mann had just completed a self-imposed two-week suspension, but insisted that his self-imposed punishment was not an admission of guilt. 

Mann was arrested in Piedmont Park late on May 6, when an APD officer said he saw Mann in an area of the park known for sexual activity after dark. When the officer spotted Mann, the officer said Mann began feeling his penis through his pants while walking toward the officer. 

According to a police report filed from the arrest, the officer said Mann exposed himself to the officer and began to make inappropriate motions. The officer said he hid behind a tree to prevent Mann from seeing the reflective tape on his Atlanta Police bicycle. 

As Mann continued to approach the officer, the officer confronted Mann by shining his flashlight. Mann fled. the officer said he identified himself as an officer, and demanded that the suspect — Mann — stop, but Mann did not. After a pursuit out of the park, Mann surrendered and was taken into custody. 

Follow Michael King on Twitter: @mhking