UPDATE: Former Baldwin Assistant Chief arrested, charged with theft

BALDWIN, Ga – Former Baldwin Assistant Police Chief Justin Ferguson was arrested Friday morning in connection with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) case Now Georgia broke yesterday. Ferguson, 41, from Clarkesville, was taken into custody without incident and booked into the Habersham County Jail for theft by taking and violation of oath of office.

According to a press release issued by the GBI, on Thursday, April 7, 2026, the Baldwin Police Department requested the GBI to investigate missing funds from the Baldwin Police Department evidence room. The investigation revealed Ferguson was the primary evidence room custodian and was responsible for the theft.

Ferguson tendered his resignation to the City of Baldwin in March after being placed on administrative leave due to an internal agency conflict.  The Baldwin City Council reviewed the investigation and accepted his resignation.

From there, Ferguson was hired by the Toccoa Police Department (TPD) as a Patrol Sergeant.  TPD Chief Bruce Carlisle tells Now Georgia that Ferguson had “a lot of qualifications and was doing a great job”.  He went on to say that Ferguson tendered his resignation on April 16th, citing “personal issues” that he needed to get resolved.

Now Georgia obtained Ferguson’s personnel record from TPD, which confirmed his resignation and that he previously worked for TPD in 2021 before taking the Assistant Police Chief position in Baldwin.

According to the GBI, this case is still under investigation, and anyone with information is encouraged to contact the GBI Regional Investigative Office in Cleveland at 706-348-4866.