JEFFERSONVILLE OFFICER ACCUSED OF TIPPING OFF ALLEGED DRUG SUSPECT

TWIGGS COUNTY - A Jeffersonville police officer was arrested Friday for
allegedly tipping off an alleged drug dealer that his home was about to be
searched.

Ellis Veal, age and address unknown, was charged with violation of oath of
office, Georgia Bureau of Investigation special agent in charge Gary
Rothwell said Friday.

Veal was taken to the Twiggs County Jail, but jail officials said he was
not in the jail Friday night.

Jeffersonville police chief Lawson Burnett could not be reached for
comment. It is not known how long Veal has been a Jeffersonville police
officer.

Veal, who is a patrol officer, allegedly tipped someone off that the Twiggs
County Sheriff's Office was about to execute a search warrant several weeks
ago, Rothwell said.

"The sheriff asked us to investigate the matter about two weeks ago into
allegations that a search warrant had been compromised," Rothwell said.

Twiggs County Sheriff Doyle Stone declined to comment on the case Friday,
saying that his department was not involved in the investigation.

According to state law, a public officer who willfully violates the terms
of his oath of office can face one to five years in state prison, if convicted.

It is not known if Veal will be allowed to work, or be placed on
administrative leave while the investigation continues.

Jeffersonville Mayor Sonja Mallory also could not be reached for comment.