Suwanee man arrested for assaulting Corps of Engineers ranger

FLOWERY BRANCH - A 24-year-old man from Suwanee is in custody charged with assaulting a US Army Corps of Engineers Ranger.

According to Hall County authorities, sheriff's deputies were dispatched to Burton Mill Park in South Hall around 3:15 p.m. regarding a US Army Corps of Engineers Ranger being assaulted.

Upon arrival, deputies learned that while the ranger was patrolling the park, he observed a group of individuals with alcoholic beverages in a prohibited area.

While issuing a citation for the offense, the ranger was physically attacked by one of the subjects. After being struck multiple times, the ranger deployed pepper spray against the subject, according to the sheriff's department.

Deputies arrested 24 year-old Charlie Brown Jordan of Suwanee without further incident and transported him to the Hall County Jail, where he was charged with obstruction of an officer, a felony. He was placed on federal hold for additional charges to be made by the Corps of Engineers.

The incident remains under investigation by the Hall County Sheriff's Office, Uniform Patrol Division.

Wilbanks said the situation underscores the dangers rangers face in the parks, dealing with large and sometimes intoxicated crowds, by themselves.

"They have county deputies, obviously for backup, but the main mission of these rangers is to patrol these parks, and they have quite a job," Wilbanks said.