Atlanta fire lieutenant facing DUI, trespassing charges

COWETA COUNTY, Ga. — Coweta County deputies arrested an Atlanta firefighter they say drove drunk, trespassed and even chased someone.

Atlanta firefighter Jason Johnson does not drive a fire truck to calls, but as a lieutenant, he is second in command at a fire station.

Channel 2’s Erica Byfield said Coweta County sheriff's officials locked him up in late March after he allegedly drove wildly just outside of Newnan.

The deputy who made the arrest said "he could smell a strong odor of alcohol coming from his person.”

Johnson has been charged with DUI, reckless driving, criminal trespass and theft by taking.

The last two charges stem from Johnson’s alleged conduct at someone's home. Police say he kicked a door, used his truck to fling mud, and then broke and stole a couple of American and Georgia bulldog flags.

Witnesses say he chased after them and threatened to kill someone who lives at the house. Eventually, Johnson’s truck got stuck in a ditch on Candler Road where he was arrested by police.

The report says Johnson told a deputy "he was upset because of an earlier incident that involved his daughter" and someone at that house.

Johnson has since been reassigned at the fire department. The department has launched an internal investigation.

WSBTV