GBI ARRESTS STEPHENS COUNTY POLICE TRAINING COORDINATOR

The training coordinator for the Stephens County Sheriff's Office was
arrested Wednesday for making false statements to GBI agents
investigating the shooting death of a North Georgia pastor.

Lt. Edwin Wilson was interviewed by GBI agents after Billy Shane
Harrison, a Stephens deputy serving with a multi-jurisdictional drug
task force, was involved in the shooting death of Jonathan Ayers.

Ayers, a pastor at Shoal Creek Baptist Church in Lavonia, was fatally
shot Sept. 1 by Harrison in Toccoa.

Wilson allegedly made false statements to investigators in regard to
Harrison's training June 11, 2010, according to a press release from
the GBI. Wilson told investigators that Harrison had required firearms
training, but Harrison did not.

On the day of the shooting, Ayers was at a convenience store when he
unknowingly met the subject of an undercover drug bust. Ayers,
approached by armed undercover officers, fled in his vehicle, striking
an officer, according to investigators.

The shooting was later deemed "justified" after a GBI investigation.
Ayers' widow, Abigail Ayers, filed a federal lawsuit claiming
Harrison was not properly trained to be a Narcotics Criminal
Investigation and Suppression officer.

Harrison still serves with the NCIS team in Toccoa, said Stephens
County Sheriff Randy Shirley.

Wilson was booked into the Stephens County jail and later released on
bond.

"I fired him (Wilson) immediately after it was revealed that he
admitted to making the false statements," said Shirley. "This is just
a stupid thing that he did."