Hawkinsville, GA: Former Pulaski County Sheriff Danny Brannen was arrested Wednesday morning after Georgia State Patrol troopers accused him of driving under the influence on Highway 11.
According to the Georgia State Patrol, Brannen was clocked going 63 mph in a 45 mph zone in Hawkinsville just before 10 a.m.
When a trooper pulled him over, the trooper reported smelling alcohol coming from inside his vehicle. The trooper also noted that Brannen’s eyes appeared bloodshot and that his speech was slurred.
After conducting a DUI investigation at the scene, the trooper placed Brannen under arrest. He now faces charges of DUI and speeding. Following the arrest, he was turned over to the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office, according to GSP.
A History of Controversy in Office
This is not the first time Brannen’s conduct has drawn scrutiny. Back in 2023, the state opened an investigation into whether he was fit to continue serving as sheriff. The inquiry came after the Georgia Sheriff’s Association raised concerns that he was not performing his duties due to what officials described as incapacity.
Governor Brian Kemp responded by appointing a special committee to look into the matter. That committee included Attorney General Chris Carr, Newton County Sheriff Ezell Brown, and Columbia County Sheriff Clay Whittle. At the time, Brannen told reporters he had no idea he was being investigated and said he did not understand why the inquiry was happening.
The investigation followed a troubling incident from November 2021, when five inmates escaped from the Pulaski County jail, including two suspects wanted for murder. The escape happened roughly eight months before the fitness investigation began.
Speaking with 13WMAZ in 2023 about the jailbreak, Brannen admitted the situation was embarrassing but downplayed his ability to have prevented it. He said he had never heard of five inmates escaping at once and called it embarrassing, but added there was nothing that could be done since they were already gone.
Voters Removed Him From Office in 2024
Brannen first won the Pulaski County sheriff’s race in 2016 and secured reelection in 2020. He attempted to run again in 2024, facing off against four other candidates for the position.
That campaign ultimately ended in defeat, as Brannen failed to advance to the runoff round of the election.
Wednesday’s DUI arrest adds another chapter to a tenure that had already drawn state-level scrutiny and ended with voters choosing not to send him back into the runoff. As of now, no additional details have been released about Brannen’s court date or possible penalties tied to the new charges.
