CORDELE, Georgia (AP) – An elected official from South Georgia was charged with obstructing law enforcement after police said he had meddled in an investigation into a fatal accident.
WALB-TV reports that Cordele City Commissioner Royce Reeves Sr. was arrested Thursday evening after attempting three times to reach the scene of the accident with a motorcycle and a car.
Police say he tried to use his position to break road blocks. Reeves was charged with a crime after a state trooper said Reeves pushed him.
“It supposedly escalated into very strong language,” said Cordele’s attorney, Tommy Coleman. “There were some printing presses between the commissioner and the police, according to the state patrol and the incident report.”
Coleman said a commissioner had no power to disrupt law enforcement.
“He felt like he knew this person and he wanted to go to the scene. According to the state patrol, he used his position to say: “You have to listen to me, I’m the city commissioner.” And of course they don’t, ”said Coleman.
The Georgia State Patrol is investigating.
Royce remained jailed in Crisp County on Friday on $ 2,500 bail, WFXL-TV reported. It’s unclear if Reeves has an attorney to speak for him.
If convicted of a crime, Reeves would be removed from office. Reeves could also be removed from office if charged.
Reeves, who is African American, drew attention in 2018 when several soldiers and Cordele officers responded to a traffic stop. A soldier tried to apologize to Reeves for illegally parking a limousine he borrowed to take Stacey Abrams supporters to polling stations.
