Bleckley County deputy arrested in family violence case, according to sheriff

Sheriff Daniel Cape says Deputy James Austin has been relieved of his duties after being arrested in Dublin.

COCHRAN, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — A Bleckley County deputy was arrested in Dublin on charges related to a family violence case, according to Bleckley County Sheriff Daniel Cape.

In a Facebook post Thursday, Cape said Deputy James Austin, who serves in the sheriff’s office Uniform Patrol Division, was arrested Thursday night.

Cape did not list the specific charges in the post. We’ve reached out to the Laurens County Sheriff’s Office for additional information.

“Effective immediately, Deputy Austin has been relieved of his duties and will be terminated from this agency pending bond,” he wrote.

Cape said everyone is entitled to due process, but no one is above the law.

“The badge does not place anyone beyond accountability,” Cape wrote. “We hold our deputies to a high standard, and when those standards are not met, we will take appropriate action.”

Cape said he wanted to address the arrest directly with the community.

“I made a promise to lead this office with honesty and transparency, and that means addressing difficult situations head-on instead of allowing rumors or half-truths to spread,” he wrote.