Towns County Sheriff Issues Legal Notice for Return of County Property Amid Missing Firearms Investigation

TOWNS COUNTY — The Towns County Sheriff’s Office has issued a legal notice requiring the return of all county-owned property currently in the possession of any individual, setting a deadline of December 31, 2025.

According to the notice, anyone holding property belonging to the Sheriff’s Office must return it during normal business hours. The notice applies to all county-issued items, including equipment, uniforms, badges, identification, keys, money, electronics, weapons, documents, or any other Sheriff’s Office property. Failure to comply could result in criminal or civil action as permitted under the Official Code of Georgia Annotated (OCGA).

The notice was issued by Sheriff Anthony Coleman and comes amid an ongoing effort to account for missing department property.

In an interview with WJRB, Interim Sheriff Coleman said he was “shocked” to learn that two department-owned 9mm Glock handguns are missing from the evidence room. Coleman told WJRB he is not accusing anyone and has not ruled out the possibility of human error, but said the office is actively working to locate the missing firearms. He added that if no one comes forward with information, the sheriff’s office will bring in an outside investigator to assist.

According to the sheriff’s office, also reported by WJRB, the two Glock handguns were purchased last spring and were equipped with optics and lights. Officials say the weapons were never issued to deputies. The missing firearms were discovered during an inventory check conducted by the Banks County Sheriff’s Office after Coleman was appointed interim sheriff in late October.

Anyone with information regarding missing Sheriff’s Office property is encouraged to contact the Towns County Sheriff’s Office. Officials emphasize that all county-owned items must be returned by the stated deadline to avoid potential legal consequences.