GBI does investigate shootings

Hiawassee, GA -According to a recent news release on July 31, 2007, bail has been set at $250,000 for Towns County Sheriff Rudy Eller, facing a long list of charges in connection with a July 9 shooting in Hiawassee.

According to the report, after weeks of rumors surrounding the sheriff's possible connection to the shooting, Special- Agent-In-Charge John Cagle of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation announced that an arrest warrant for Sheriff Eller was issued late Monday. Sheriff Eller surrendered to GBI agents Tuesday, at the White County Courthouse in Cleveland.

The report indicated arrest warrant charges Sheriff Eller with tampering with evidence, making false statements, obstruction or hindering the apprehension of a criminal, and violation of his oath of office.

The report stated that, the GBI arrested Chief Towns County Deputy Eddie Osborn, and Towns County Deputy Jesse Gibson, earlier in July on charges that they fired at least a dozen shots into an occupied home on Cynth Creek Road in Hiawassee on July 9th. Two people inside the building were not injured.

An affidavit filed by investigators, Michelle Osborn, stated the wife of Chief Deputy Osborn, and Gary Dean, a victim of the drive-by shooting, had confirmed to the GBI that they were involved in an ongoing, intimate relationship.

According to Mr. Dean, rising tensions between he and Deputy Osborn, prompted him to visit Sheriff Eller at his home several days prior to the shooting, to express fears for his safety.

The affidavit indicated, Sheriff Eller told Dean he had already talked with Chief Deputy Osborn about the situation, but wasn't sure the talk had done any good.

The affidavit indicated that Chief Deputy Osborn originally denied any knowledge of the shooting, but later admitted to investigators that he had driven by Dean's home several times to determine if he was home alone and if so, Osborn was going to "kick his ass."

GBI investigators determined that a semi-automatic handgun like one owned by Osborn had been used in the shooting. According to the affidavit, Osborn told investigators that his handgun had been at the residence of the Towns County Sheriff for several months. Osborn retrieved the gun from the sheriff, and turned it over to the GBI Crime Lab, which determined that the gun had fired the shots in the drive-by shooting.

The affidavit, when he was initially interviewed by GBI agents, Sheriff Eller indicated that he had been holding Osborn's gun for several weeks at a secure location at his home. When confronted with evidence that the gun had been used in the shooting, Eller changed his story, and admitted that he didn't have the gun before the shootings. Eller then told investigators that Deputy Osborn had visited his home the morning after the drive-by shooting and admitted firing shots into the building. Osborn gave the gun involved to Eller, and requested that he "hide it" and tell investigators the gun had been in the sheriff's possession for several months.

At the July 17th interview, according to the court affidavit, Eller admitted that at the time he requested the GBI Investigation of the original shooting, he already knew who had fired the shots into the residence and had hidden the gun barrel used in the shooting in hopes that it would never be found.

Sheriff Osborn has been released from jail on $250,000 bond and is on an unpaid leave from the sheriff's department. Deputy Gibson is free on $100,000 bond, and has been terminated from his part-time deputy position.

GBI Agent Cagle says he does not anticipate addition arrests in the case.

On Sunday, June 10, the GBI was requested by Colquitt Police Chief Scott Worsley to assist in the drive-by-shooting of the local newspaper office, but was refused help by the GBI due to shortage of manpower. To date, no arrests have been made in this case in Southwest Georgia.