Soperton Resident Complains of Mistreatment by City Police

During the public participation segment of the regularly scheduled Soperton City Council Meeting on Monday, April 20, 2026, city resident Al Harden addressed the council to share concerns about the city police department.

Harden gave an account of an incident that occurred in which he felt his life was being threatened that led up to his calling the police on the afternoon of April 5.

Harden told the council he had ridden over to his “other place on Alabama Avenue, just to sit back and listen to a little Johnny Taylor.”

“I wasn’t there to start trouble, and I didn’t start any trouble,” Harden continued.

According to Harden, while walking around his property on Alabama Avenue, a neighbor came over and accused him of trespassing on his property. A conversation about an old, disputed property line ensued and according to Harden, the man acted aggressively toward him telling him to leave, using racial slurs, and grabbing Harden by his shirt.

“That surprised me, pissed me off,” Harden said. Harden also alleged the man kicked and dented the passenger door of his car before going inside his house and returning with an assault rifle. Harden stated a neighbor tried to convince the man to put away the rifle, but the man would not. Therefore, Harden said he called the police for help. Harden said it took the police 15 to 20 minutes to arrive, and by that time the man’s family had gathered up supporting the man. It was during this time, according to Harden, that the man’s mother had convinced him to put the rifle away.

Harden stated the officers “took sides with these people” over him and disregarded what he was saying about the altercation. “These people continued to make threats to me. The police officers acted like I didn’t even exist,” Harden said. “I showed the female police officer where he kicked my door, she didn’t want to even look at it.”

Harden told the council he was dissatisfied with Police Chief Scott’s handling of the situation. Harden said, “When I talked to the police chief, you know what his question was to ask me? ‘Well, did he point it at you?’” Harden stated, “I’m thinking that when I see police officers, what’s wrote on it is ‘To serve and protect.’ I wasn’t served, and I wasn’t protected.” “This man threatened my life with an assault rifle. Walked the street.” Harden added, “Nobody got arrested. Had that been me, I’d be locked up right now.”

“That’s not right, mayor. I’m very dissatisfied with how the police handled this situation.”

The council did not discuss Harden’s allegations during the meeting, and Mayor Koon thanked Harden and said the city would respond to him with a letter within 30 days.

Upon further investigation by Chief of Police Scott, it was determined that the altercation involving Mr. Harden was the result of a long running feud between family members. Chief Scott investigated the incident to the fullest extent and determined there were no laws broken and informed Mr. Harden of that. Mayor Koon, when asked, stated, “I am satisfied that Chief Scott and the Soperton Police Department acted in good faith and conducted themselves in a professional manner throughout the handling of this case. Our police department and Chief have the full support of the Mayor and Council members. We stand by our police department 100% and it is run in a most professional manner. Chief Scott has taken the department from a weak agency to a very efficient professionally run department.”

In other business, the council discussed advertising bids for a new contractor to cut grass at Westview Cemetery, with the understanding the work must comply with the city’s new Cemetery Ordinance.

The council had recently passed new ordinances making the city not liable for damages to headstones, monuments, or other non-city property. The current contractor’s term expires in May, and the council decided to rebid the service to find a contractor with general liability insurance to cover possible damages. The contractor would cut the grass at Westview Cemetery twice per month during grass growing season from March to September and then cut as needed from October to February. The contract would last for one year. A motion was made to solicit bids for the grass cutting contract and it passed unanimously. Cemetery grass cutting bids will be advertised in the local newspaper and on social media for three weeks.

The council voted unanimously to approve the hiring of a part-time recreation department worker for three days a week at $12.36 an hour with duties assigned by Recreation Department Manager Ray Peeples A motion was made and approved unanimously for use of Flex Cards to be used for city vehicles. These flexible spending cards will be issued to the city vehicles with each driver having their own PIN number. The Flex Card will be used by city employees for fuel as well as maintenance and can track both for accounting purposes.

The mayor presented an Open Burn Ordinance to the council for approval. This was done as a result of the extreme dry weather and the ongoing outbreak of fires in South Georgia. The ordinance will be in effect for sixty days. Violators of the ordinance, if convicted, will “be punished by a fine not exceeding $1,000.00, imprisonment for not more than 12 months, or both, or in accordance with other applicable law.” The council unanimously approved the ordinance, with the burn ban going into effect immediately.

The council then went into a closed executive session to discuss a contract.

The next regular Soperton City Council meeting is scheduled for Monday, May 18, 2026, at 6:30 p.m.