A Covington man who was a sergeant with the Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office was arrested following an early morning crash on McCalla Road in Rockdale County. 

Jerome Albato Woods, 43, was arrested by the Georgia State Patrol following an investigation into the single-vehicle crash in a roundabout.  The Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office, in keeping with policy, called the Georgia State Patrol to investigate the crash after Woods’ personally-owned vehicle was found at the scene. The Georgia State Patrol, in turn, contacted the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

Woods is charged with Leaving the Scene of an Accident, Willful Obstruction of Law Enforcement Officers, Failure to Maintain Lane, and Making False Statements to Law Enforcement Officers.  A relative, Briajon Graig, 20, also of Covington, was charged with Making False Statements to Law Enforcement Officers and Willful Obstruction of Law Enforcement Officers.

Graig initially told the Georgia State Patrol that she was driving the vehicle, but through the course of their investigation, they determined that Woods was the driver and had left the scene.

According to Rockdale County Sheriff Eric Levett, Woods has been terminated based on the totality of the investigation results thus far.  “We are working with the Georgia State Patrol and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation to review all aspects of this incident,” said Sheriff Levett.  “I will hold every employee in the Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office to the high standard of conduct and professionalism that the citizens of this county deserve.  I will always respond swiftly to any misconduct or illegal actions, as they have no place in law enforcement and certainly have no place in the Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office.”