CUMMING - The sheriff of Forsyth County is the object of some damaging television and newspaper reports, but Ted Paxton says "petty politics" is behind it all.
According to reports in the Atlanta Journal Constitution and Channel 2 News, EMTs reportedly found Sheriff Paxton in January collapsed in a doorway of a friend's home in Forsyth County. Paxton reportedly was watching the friend's baby when the woman came home and found him.
Reports from both news outlets indicated that they obtained reports from the Forsyth County Fire Department and those reports said the sheriff was intoxicated. Paxton has said a follow-up medical examination concluded he had a blood sugar imbalance on the night in question.
County Attorney Ken Jarrard told Channel 2 there's not much he can say about the case.
"All I can tell you is the report says what it says and given that it's a personnel matter involving the county, I'll have to defer any other comment," said Jarrard.
Paxton, who is running for re-election this year, posted the following comment on his campaign Facebook page Thursday.
"I was just contacted by an Atlanta-are [sic] television station regarding the Fire Department's internal investigation into the 911 medical call to the residence where I was on January 13. The following statement is what I provided this television station:
'I cannot comment on another department's investigation, and I will refer you to my previous statements on this issue. Sadly, this is a personal attack against me for petty political reasons, and I am more concerned and more interested in protecting and doing what is best for the citizens of Forsyth County.'"
Wednesday
November 27th, 2024
2:48PM
