SRO arrested for oath violation & false statements

Photo byDaniel Purcell/NowHabersham.com

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) has arrested a former Habersham County School Resource Officer (SRO) on charges of Violation of Oath of Office by a Public Officer and False Statements.

David Matthew Jackels, 47, of Cornelia, was arrested on Wednesday, October 9, following an investigation by the GBI. The investigation was initiated on February 29, at the request of Habersham County Sheriff Joey Terrell, who asked the GBI to look into allegations surrounding Jackels’ interactions with students.

Jackels, a 25-year law enforcement veteran, was a School Resource Officer at Wilbanks Middle School. He was fired after an internal investigation revealed he had been messaging a student.

No further details about the allegations have been released. Jackels is in custody at the Habersham County Detention Center.

The GBI encourages anyone with information related to the case to contact the GBI Regional Investigative Office in Cleveland at (706) 348-4866.

To report anonymously, call 1-800-597-TIPS (8477), visit https://gbi.georgia.gov/submit-tips-online, or download the See Something, Send Something mobile app.

Once the investigation is complete, the GBI says it will turn over the case to the Mountain Judicial Circuit District Attorney for prosecution.