CORDELE, Ga. (WALB) - A Cordele Police (CPD) officer is now on administrative leave following a physical altercation that occurred Monday afternoon.

According to the police department, this move comes after officers made contact on Monday, Sept. 1 with a male suspect who had active felony warrants and who was known to carry a firearm. CPD said that the suspect ran away after officers made contact with him.

The police department said in a press release that officers later performed a felony traffic stop on a vehicle they believed the suspect was inside of. After the stop, CPD confirmed that the suspect had no connection to the vehicle or the driver that they stopped.

However, a physical altercation reportedly broke out between a witness and a police officer during that traffic stop, CPD said. The officer involved in the altercation is now on administrative leave pending the outcome of an investigation into the incident, officials said.

CPD Chief Jalon Heard released the following statement about the incident:

“The Cordele Police Department is committed to professionalism and doing what is right. I assure the public that this incident will be thoroughly investigated.”

No further details have been released at this time.

WALB is working to learn more. Stay with us.

Have a news tip or see an error that needs correction? Let us know. Please include the article’s headline in your message.

To stay up to date on all the latest news as it develops, follow WALB on Facebook and X (Twitter). For more South Georgia news, download the WALB News app from the Apple Store or Google Play.

Copyright 2025 WALB. All rights reserved.