A former Statham police officer, who had been accused of making faulty DUI arrests, is now working as a deputy for the Lumpkin County Sheriff's Office.
In a statement released Tuesday, Lumpkin County Sheriff Stacy Jarrard said he was aware of the the Atlanta television reports outlining issues with the way Dep. Marc Lofton conducted DUI and DUI-drug arrests.
CBS46 reported that Lofton had made false DUI arrests involving people who were taking prescription medications. The TV station said because of errors in some arrests, many of the cases had been dismissed,
Jarrard said, however, there was nothing in Lofton's background check to indicate alarm.
"As part of our hiring process, a background investigation, interview board, and voice stress analysis test was completed," Sheriff Jarrard stated. "Mr. Lofton successfully passed all of these processes."
Jarrard said Lofton never has been charged with any criminal wrongdoing, and in addition, he was never disciplined while he was working for the Statham Police Department.
"The District Attorney’s Office completed an investigation on Mr. Lofton and they did not see any criminal act," Jarrard said. "The Prosecuting Attorney’s Council (PAC) also investigated Mr. Lofton and did not see any criminal acts being committed. However, they did recommend additional training. Mr. Lofton has since completed and passed the additional training recommended by PAC."
Jarrard said Lofton is on a one-year probationary period - as are all new hires with the Lumpkin County Sheriff's Office - and is in the process of completing the SO's Field Training Program.
