Thomson Mayor Taken Out Of City Council Meeting in Handcuffs

Thomson Mayor Benjamin "Benji" Cranford was attending a City Council meeting this afternoon when an executive session was suddenly interrupted by officers from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

An officer told Cranford he needed to come with him, handcuffed the mayor and escorted him out of the room at 3:15 pm.

The 52-year-old Cranford reportedly asked authorities what the interruption was all about, but officers only offered that they were from the GBI.

City Council members reportedly had no idea what was happening as the meeting suddenly came to a halt.

The Thomson Police Department reportedly asked the GBI to investigate Cranford following allegations had had given alcohol to an inmate who was on work detail in early June.

A Grand Jury arrest warrant was issued following the investigation and Cranford was taken into custody today. He was charged with Furnishing Prohibited Items to Inmates and Criminal Attempt to Commit a Felony

"On June 6, 2024, the Thomson Police Department requested that the GBI conduct an investigation into an allegation that Cranford gave contraband (alcohol) to an inmate work detail that was working within the city limits of Thomson on June 4, 2024.

On August 14, 2024, the case was presented to a McDuffie County Grand Jury and a Grand Jury arrest warrant was issued for Cranford.

Cranford was booked into the McDuffie County Jail upon his arrest.

Anyone with information is asked to call the GBI at 706-595-2575. Anonymous tips can also be submitted by calling 1-800-597-TIPS (8477), online at https://gbi.georgia.gov/submit-tips-online, or by downloading the See Something, Send Something mobile app.

Once the investigation is complete, the file will be given to the Toombs Judicial Circuit District Attorney's Office for prosecution."