Gainesville officer arrested, charged with aggravated assault

A Gainesville police officer was arrested Monday following his alleged assault of a minor in 2017, officials said.

Derek Evatt, 40, was taken to the Hall County Jail and charged with aggravated assault after a GBI investigation, the Gainesville Police Department said in a statement.

The department asked the GBI to investigate after a complaint was made Wednesday. The arrest stems from an “off-duty domestic-related issue” in late 2017 involving a minor, police said.

Evatt was also fired from the department.

“Although a sad and unfortunate situation, if an officer violates the law, they will face consequences,” Gainesville police Chief Jay Parrish said in a statement. “I, along with my administration, expect all officers to conduct themselves ethically, honestly and with integrity both on and off duty.”

In other news:

Channel 2's Sophia Choi found snow in North Georgia

About the Author

Brookhaven removes colored glass from City Centre dome after uproar

Some say the colors were too bright, the dome looked like ice cream with sprinkles and the hues distracted from the building’s muted design.

‘Big Beautiful Bill’ strikes fear in Georgia’s clean energy, EV sectors

If the Senate's One Big Beautiful Bill Act passes, it would eliminate tax credits for EV purchases and installing solar panels and end subsidies for clean energy companies