Twiggs County commissioner indicted by grand jury

A Twiggs County commissioner was indicted by a superior court grand jury in April on aggravated assault charges stemming from a 2023 shooting.

Lonnie Ford, who was reelected to represent District 1 last November, was indicted by a county grand jury April 14 on two counts of aggravated assault discharging a gun near a highway or street, reckless conduct and criminal property damage in the second degree.

Ford was arrested Oct. 3, 2023 after reportedly firing at tow truck driver Austin Roberts, who repossessed a car parked at Ford’s house. According to media reports at the time, Ford and Roberts went to the Twiggs County Sheriff’s Office following the shooting, where Ford was arrested and booked. He was released the next day on an $8,500 bond. 

The indictment alleges Ford damaged a tire and rims on Roberts’ tow truck.

Roberts filed a civil suit against Ford in Twiggs County Superior Court on Nov. 7,  asking for unspecified compensatory and punitive damages. Ford denied Roberts’ allegations in a legal filing on Jan. 15. The case has yet to go to trial.

Ford, a Democrat, defeated Republican challenger Wade Huffman in the 2024 general election for the Twiggs County Commissioner District 1 position, garnering 673 votes compared to 433 for Huffman.

A spokesperson for Gov. Brian Kemp’s office told the TJP that the office has not received certified transmission of the indictment and no review commission has been appointed at this time to consider suspending Ford.