Find Towns County Police Blotter

Towns County police blotter records document law enforcement activity in one of Georgia's northernmost mountain counties. Hiawassee is the county seat. Sheriff Ken Henderson runs the Towns County Sheriff's Office, which is the primary law enforcement agency for this small, rural county. Access to police blotter files in Towns County is governed by the Georgia Open Records Act. You can request arrest logs, incident reports, and booking records from the sheriff's office directly or search for state-level records online through portals that serve all Georgia counties including Towns County.

Towns County Police Blotter Office

The Towns County Sheriff's Office is the go-to source for police blotter records in the county. Sheriff Ken Henderson operates out of 48 River Street, Suite B, in Hiawassee. The phone number is (706) 896-4444. As one of Georgia's smaller counties, the sheriff's office is the main law enforcement agency. Deputies handle everything from traffic stops to major incidents in unincorporated Towns County.

Hiawassee has a small police department covering its city limits. Young Harris also has limited law enforcement. But for most police blotter records in Towns County, the sheriff's office is your best starting point. The county sees a mix of calls ranging from property crimes to traffic incidents, especially during tourist season when visitors come to the mountains and lake. If you need a specific report, the sheriff's office staff can usually pull it fairly quickly given the smaller volume of records compared to urban counties.

Towns County Police Blotter Open Records

Under the Georgia Open Records Act, you have the right to request police blotter entries from any agency in Towns County. O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70 defines public records broadly to include arrest reports, incident logs, and booking sheets. The Towns County Sheriff's Office must make these available when asked. You do not need a reason.

The response deadline is three business days under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71. Towns County typically handles requests quickly because the volume is lower than in bigger counties. Copies cost up to 10 cents per page for standard sizes. The first 15 minutes of search time are free. After that, an hourly charge may apply based on the lowest-paid staff member who can pull the file. Single-report requests from Towns County are usually cheap.

Some records are exempt under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72. Active investigation files and confidential informant details can be held back. But the basic police blotter entry from Towns County, the initial record of what was reported, is almost always released to the public.

State Patrol Police Blotter in Towns County

Georgia State Patrol troopers cover state highways in Towns County. Mountain roads can be challenging, and troopers handle many crash reports along these routes. Their police blotter entries are filed separately from sheriff's office records in Towns County.

You can access state patrol reports through the EPORTS online system. A crash report costs $5.00. Incident reports are $2.00. Citations are free for the first copy. Reports from Towns County are typically ready within three to five business days. This online portal is especially useful in a rural county like Towns where driving to a state office might mean a long trip.

The Open Records Act applies to all police blotter records filed in Towns County and throughout Georgia.

Towns County Police Blotter Data

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation collects crime statistics from the Towns County Sheriff's Office and other agencies in the area. The GBI does not patrol Towns County roads. It supports local agencies with lab work, investigations, and data analysis. The GBI Records Request Center handles open records requests for any investigative files they maintain.

Criminal history records have extra requirements. O.C.G.A. § 35-3-34 says you need consent from the person whose record you want unless you are only searching for Georgia felony convictions. The GBI runs the Georgia Sex Offender Registry, which is free to search for registered offenders in Towns County. Submit crime tips through the GBI online tip form at any time.

Note: In a small county like Towns, the GBI may get involved more often in serious cases because local resources are limited.

Towns County Offender Search

People sent to state prison after a Towns County conviction can be found through the Georgia Department of Corrections offender search. The system shows current inmates with photos when available. This covers state prison only. It does not include people in the Towns County jail.

For current inmates in the Towns County detention facility, call the sheriff's office at (706) 896-4444. Booking records are public under Georgia law. They list who is in custody and their charges. This is part of the Towns County police blotter. Because the jail is small, staff can usually locate booking information quickly if you have a name.

Towns County Police Record Fees

Fees for police blotter records in Towns County follow state rules. Standard copies are up to 10 cents per page. Certified copies add a $2.00 fee. The DPS fee schedule outlines what agencies can charge for time and copies.

Through EPORTS, a state patrol crash report from Towns County costs $5.00. An incident report is $2.00. Your first citation copy comes at no charge. These prices apply only to state-level records. The Towns County Sheriff's Office may charge slightly different amounts for local police blotter files. Given the lower volume of requests in this rural county, most reports cost only a few dollars.

Reading Towns County Incident Reports

A police blotter entry from Towns County follows the same format used statewide. It shows the date, time, and location of the incident. A description of what happened comes next. If there was an arrest, the report includes the person's name, charges, and the arresting officer's name. A case number ties everything together for each Towns County incident.

Georgia law requires redaction of certain personal details before police records are released. Phone numbers, day and month of birth, and medical information are removed from Towns County police blotter files. The year of birth remains. Addresses may be partially redacted. You receive a version that protects privacy while still providing the key facts about what happened. Parties to a case in Towns County may request a more complete version through their attorney.

The Georgia Sheriffs' Association directory can confirm contact details for the Towns County Sheriff's Office.

Verify the correct mailing address and phone number for the Towns County Sheriff's Office before submitting a records request.

Nearby Counties

These counties share borders with Towns County. Incidents near a county line could end up in a neighboring agency's records. Confirm the location before you request police blotter files.