FLOYD COUNTY, Ga. — Five law enforcement officers and face charges in an aggravated assault case with a Floyd County Jail inmate, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation announced Friday.
The GBI did not provide any details of the alleged assault. The bureau said it was requested to investigate by the Floyd County Sheriff's Office on June 5.
The five law enforcement officers now charged include three Georgia Department of Corrections officers, one GDC investigator and one Floyd County sheriff's deputy.
The GBI said the following five people were arrested, and listed their charges:
- Josha Riddle, 32: Aggravated assault, terroristic threats and acts, battery, violation of oath of office
- Billy Lingerfelt, 63: Aggravated assault, terroristic threats and acts, violation of oath of office
- Donna Pettyjohn, 56: Conspiracy to commit aggravated assault, conspiracy to commit terroristic threats and acts, conspiracy to commit battery, false statements, violation of oath of office
- Hannah Rittweger, 32: Conspiracy to commit aggravated assault, conspiracy to commit terroristic threats and acts, conspiracy to commit battery, false statements, violation of oath of office
- Logan Nelson, 24: Party to the crime of aggravated assault, party to the crime of terroristic threats and acts, party to the crime of battery, violation of oath of office
The GBI's release did not outline which of these individuals held which law enforcement positions. All five of the law enforcement officers are currently being held at the Floyd County Jail.
The GBI added:
This investigation is active and ongoing. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Floyd County Sheriff’s Office at 706-291-4111 or the GBI regional investigative office in Calhoun at 706-624-1424. Anonymous tips can also be submitted by calling 1-800-597-TIPS (8477), online at https://gbi.georgia.gov/submit-tips-online, or by downloading the See Something, Send Something mobile app.
Once the investigation is complete, the case file will be given to Floyd County District Attorney’s Office for prosecution.
