ATLANTA — Gov. Brian Kemp has extended the suspension of Hall County Sheriff Gerald Couch for an additional 30 days following Couch’s recent arrest on new driving-related charges.
Kemp announced Friday that Couch’s suspension, originally set to expire Saturday, will now continue through mid-June.
The governor first suspended Couch for 60 days in March after the sheriff was arrested Feb. 27 on charges including DUI, failure to maintain lane and an open container violation while driving a Hall County vehicle. According to the Georgia State Patrol, Couch was stopped by one of his own deputies after allegedly weaving between lanes.
The extension comes less than two weeks after Couch was arrested again in Dawson County on charges of failure to maintain lane and violating the conditions of a limited driving permit. Authorities said the May 4 traffic stop occurred on Georgia 400.
Couch’s attorney, Blake Poole, previously said the sheriff was sober at the time of the Dawson County arrest and argued that the Georgia Department of Driver Services had provided conflicting information regarding the conditions of Couch’s limited permit.
Kemp also previously appointed Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr, Greene County Sheriff Donnie Harrison and Glascock County Sheriff Jeremy Kelley to investigate the circumstances surrounding Couch’s February arrest.
Major Chris Matthews has continued serving as interim sheriff during Couch’s suspension.
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