Former Cornelia Fire Department Assistant Chief Arrested

According to the GBI, former Cornelia Fire Department Assistant Chief Shane Bentley was arrested on February 2, 2023 and charged with one count of first-degree forgery and one count of theft by taking.

The Cornelia Police Department requested the GBI Cleveland Office investigate a forgery identified by the police department surrounding a donation of gear to the fire department from another fire department. In addition, the items that were donated were not all accounted for after a Cornelia Fire Department inventory.

Upon completion of the investigation, the case will be provided to the Mountain Judicial Circuit for prosecution.