Enigma mayor arrested and charged with assault at council meetings

ENIGMA, Ga. – According to our news partners with the Tifton Grapevine Newsletter, Mayor Cecil Giddens, 79, of Enigma, has been arrested on charges stemming from two alleged assaults at Enigma City Council meetings, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI).

Giddens is charged with simple battery, two counts of simple assault, two counts of battery, and two counts of disorderly conduct, the GBI said. The mayor turned himself in without incident to the Berrien County Jail on Thursday.

The Alapaha Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office on June 15 had asked the GBI to investigate an alleged assault that occurred June 12 at an Enigma City Council meeting.

Then, on Oct. 27, Giddens allegedly assaulted another City Council member, and the GBI was also requested to investigate that incident. The charges against Giddens stem from both incidents, the GBI said.

In November, Giddens was re-elected mayor over challenger Gary Spears.

The investigation involving Giddens remains active. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Alapaha Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office at 229-686-7015 or the GBI Regional Investigative Office in Douglas at 912-389-4103.

Once the investigation is complete, the case file will be given to the Alapaha Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office for review and prosecution.

By: Frank Sayles Jr., Tifton Grapevine.

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