Griffin PD officer seriously injured in altercation with GHS student

SHEILA A. MATHEWS :::

An officer of the Griffin Police Department was seriously injured today in an altercation involving a Griffin High School student.

Authorities say GHS School Resource Officer Jessie Davenport sustained serious injuries to both knees when a male student allegedly initiated a physical struggle.

“The SRO was breaking up a fight and was escorting a 15-year-old male arrestee when a struggle caused the SRO to fall injuring his knee/s,” said GPD Chief Mike Yates. “The 15-year-old was arrested and the SRO was transported to the hospital for treatment.”

Yates said charges against the 15-year-old are pending.

He declined to discuss Davenport’s specific injuries, citing employee confidentiality.

Yates did confirm Davenport’s injuries will likely require an extended leave of absence.

Griffin-Spalding County School System Executive Director of Communications and Partnerships Adam Pugh said the fight Davenport was attempting to break up occurred during lunch.

Pugh identified Davenport’s injury as “possibly a dislocated knee.”

“The students involved will be punished according to the school discipline protocol. GSCS appreciates our school resource officers and regrets that this officer was injured,” Pugh said.

Yates did refute certain claims related to this incident that have been circulating on social media, specifically whether Davenport lost possession of his firearm and the manner in which he was injured.

“Not that I’m aware of and it was not in the video I reviewed,” Yates said of Davenport’s firearm being taken. “The social media post alleging that the ‘SRO was slammed’ and lost his gun appear to be untrue.”

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