Baldwin County deputy cleared in August use-of-force incident

Sheriff Bill Massee says Joseph Harker will work in a position with limited public contact following the review.

MILLEDGEVILLE, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Baldwin County Deputy Joseph Harker will return to work in a position with limited public contact after a review determined he did not use excessive force during an August arrest, according to Sheriff Bill Massee.

During a news conference Tuesday, the sheriff addressed the incident, while residents raised questions about the deputy’s use of force and how mental health concerns are handled.

Harker was the focus of the news conference following an investigation into a physical altercation during the arrest of Calvin Brown in Milledgeville. Massee says the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia reviewed the incident and determined Harker’s use of force was appropriate.

“I’m glad it went to the prosecuting attorneys’ council, because they did an official review of it, and they utilized case law and looked at the rules that people in mandate school and law enforcement are trained to comply with,” Massee said. “And they made a determination that Deputy Sheriff Joseph Harker did not use excessive force, and the standards he used was appropriate.”

On August 3, 2026, a man called 911 around 9:49 p.m. to report a trespasser on his property. The caller told authorities a man identified as “Calvin” had previously been trespassed from the property but had returned and was asking bystanders for money.

Harker responded to the call. According to the report, Harker said Brown was not complying with his commands, which led to the use of force during the arrest.

“A use of force incident begins with one thing, and that is a non-compliant defender,” Massee said. “And it’s never pretty on video because it is physically someone trying to take someone into custody, and they’re using physical force, necessary to affect an arrest.”

Massee saidd Brown has a lengthy history of  violent behavior and noncompliance, including previous incidents the sheriff says raised public safety concerns.

“He has a history,” Massee said. “A total history of non-compliance, from shooting someone in our community, to beating a pregnant woman, to threatening to cut the head of his mother off, to  being trespassed previously from five convenience stores here in this community.”

Resident Cynthia Ward-Edwards questioned whether deputies would change their approach to Brown in light of concerns about his mental health.

“Now moving forward, you’re saying you’re going to treat him the same way you have always treated him, so is there now some type of procedure that needs to happen, now that you know Mr. Brown deals with mental health?” she asked.

“You’re telling me he has mental issues,” Massee said. “In every piece of paper I’ve reviewed on prosecutions from state court through superior court, never in any of his paperwork did I see any kind of mental health issues tagged to it. This is something I will have to review. We have a tremendous number of people in our jail with mental health issues; that’s why with the health provider we have, we have really requested them to send people in here to help us with mental health.”

Massee says Harker has been out of work for three months and will return to the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office.

“However, due to the relationship we have with this community he will not be functioning in straight law enforcement duties,” Massee said. “He will be placed in a position where he will not have any more direct contact with our public than necessary.”

41NBC will continue to follow developments involving the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office.