In a small central Georgia town, three city officials have been detained for allegedly coercing someone to attach a tracking device to the police chief’s patrol car.
The acting mayor of Enigma, Doug Webb, faces charges including stalking, eavesdropping, criminal conspiracy, criminal solicitation, and violating his oath of office, according to WALB. City Councilman Ronald Harbin is accused of stalking, eavesdropping, conspiracy, and violating his oath. Meanwhile, City Clerk Latasha Luke is charged with conspiracy and solicitation.
Police Chief Tony Perkins discovered the tracking device on his vehicle during a wash and initiated an inquiry on October 1. Within a week, he obtained arrest warrants for the trio involved.
Perkins stated, “I am committed to enforcing state laws in Georgia. No matter who you are or your position, I will protect Enigma’s citizens. These individuals made poor choices, and they must face the consequences.”
The motivation behind placing the tracker on Perkins’ car remains unclear, yet the town of Enigma has been mired in issues for some time. Earlier financial irregularities were uncovered when $100,000 worth of city checks were found uncashed in a closet, leading to frozen bank accounts at the start of the year.
In a January city council meeting, an argument between council members Webb and Donald Franklin culminated in Webb’s arrest for disorderly conduct.
In May, the city council voted to hire a police chief after months without any law enforcement in the town at all.
Long-time Mayor Cecil Giddens, who served in the post for 38 years, stepped down from his post in July. But no one had a bad word to say about Giddens, including Webb, who took over as acting mayor, and the town held a retirement celebration for him in August.
Now, Webb, Harbin, and Luke are all behind bars awaiting an initial court appearance.
Enigma is a tiny town of barely more than 1,000 people on south Georgia, about 50 miles north of the Florida state line.
