GBI arrests Thomson mayor, takes him away in handcuffs
THOMSON, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - GBI officers came to the Thomson City Administration Office on Wednesday to arrest the mayor and haul him to jail in handcuffs.
It happened after Mayor Benji Cranford was indicted by a grand jury on suspicion of buying booze for state prisoners.
News 12 was there when Georgia Bureau of Investigation officers came in around 3:15 p.m. after an executive session of the City Council.
“Sir, I’m going to need you to come with me,” a GBI officer told Cranford.
Cranford said, “What is this about?”
The officer said: “I’m with the GBI. Can you step out?”
They stepped out, then handcuffs could be heard being put on the mayor’s wrists.
Council members wondered what was going on and asked the public to leave, and the doors were shut.
The mayor was placed on the passenger side of a black sport utility vehicle, and it left.
On June 6, the Thomson Police Department requested that the GBI conduct an investigation into an allegation that Cranford gave alcohol to inmates on June 4, according to the GBI.
The case was presented to a McDuffie County grand jury, and a grand jury arrest warrant was issued for Cranford.
According to the indictment, Cranford drove to Rimpy’s Store and bought a 750 milliliter bottle of Seagram’s Extra Dry Gin and left it in a ditch along Cobbham Road in the path of a work crew of state prisoners from the Jefferson County Correctional Institution.
We spoke to one of the workers who says Cranford is a regular.
“At least twice a week? Sometimes it might be three, but usually, at least twice a week,” said Ivie.
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He’s charged with furnishing prohibited items to inmates and criminal attempt to commit a felony.
Cranford was booked into McDuffie County jail after his arrest.
He’d bonded out by 6 p.m. and left the jail smiling and not answering when asked if he had any comments.
His bond was set at $5,000, according to jail officials.
Thomson residents are shocked by the charges.
For many, this turn of events opened their eyes to the future of the city government.
Thomson resident, Hannah Beatty, said: “As people, we should, you know, consider things more seriously, especially when we’re voting these people to decide things for us, and we’re going to make them above us.”
Others are more skeptical, waiting for this to play out.
“I don’t believe he would do it, but I did work for the man for five years, and Benji never been but a great person community,” said another Thomson resident, Blake Griffith. “Well, I hope justice is served. I just proved that the allegations are wrong, and everything comes out true.”
Nesman Davis, Thomson native, said: “If it’s true, I think, you know, there should be consequences, but I don’t think it’s true, you know, because it is a crime to do that.”
We asked local officials for comment.
“As we understand the charges in this case are not related to Mr. Cranford’s duties as an elected official, we do not have a comment,” said Jason Smith, the local community development director who serves as a city and county spokesman.
Cranford has been a polarizing figure in Thomson since taking office months ago, and faced a federal lawsuit that alleged financial troubles and broken promises until it was settled earlier this month.
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