Joshua Nelson
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation arrested 31-year-old Bartow County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Josh Nelson today on violation of oath of office, possession of methamphetamine, and sexual assault by a person with supervisory or disciplinary authority. All charges are felonies.
The GBI was requested by the Bartow County Sheriff’s Office on May 9th to investigate allegations that Deputy Nelson abused his authority as a sworn officer. The female victim alleged that during a non-custodial transport Deputy Nelson took inappropriate photos of her. The Bartow County Sheriff’s Office initiated an internal affairs investigation and requested GBI conduct a criminal investigation. The GBI investigation resulted in three arrest warrants for Deputy Nelson.
Deputy Nelson had been employed with the Bartow County Sheriff’s Office for six years and ten months.
Deputy Nelson was arrested by GBI agents and Bartow County Deputies. Once the investigation is completed, it will be turned over to Cherokee Judicial Circuit District Attorney Rosemary Greene for prosecution.