South Fulton County

Firefighter allegedly shot deer without license on city property, officials say

CHATTAHOOCHEE HILLS, Ga. — A local firefighter is in trouble after allegedly shooting a deer without a gaming license while on duty.

Channel 2's Tom Jones found out that the firefighter is in even more trouble after he didn't show up to court.

Jones was in the courtroom this week when a judge issued a warrant for Brandon Ploof's arrest when he didn't show up.

The city of Chattahoochee Hills is looking into allegations he brought a gun to work. Ploof is accused of going in the back of the fire station where he works and shooting and killing a deer while on duty.

People were a bit disturbed when Jones showed them a picture of Ploof holding up the head of the deer he killed.

"It sounds like he was doing something he shouldn't have been doing," one resident, who did not identify himself, told Jones.

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The Department of Natural Resources wrote Ploof five citations, including one for hunting without a big game license, after it learned of the incident.

Jones was in court when Ploof was scheduled to appear before a judge for the citations, but he was a no-show.

"A warrant will be issued for his arrest," the judge said during the hearing.

Jones called Ploof on Sunday and even went by the fire station, but he wasn't there.

In documents that Jones obtained through an open records request, he learned the fire chief questioned Ploof about the shooting.

Ploof immediately stated he did it.

When the chief asked what happened to the deer carcass, Ploof said: "We skinned it and put it in the freezer here. Almost everybody enjoyed some of it."

It was too much for some who heard the allegations.

"I think he should be fired," said Jerry Hardaway.

The city manager told Jones it's concerning that Ploof brought a weapon on city property, which is prohibited, and was engaged in activity unrelated to his job duties.

Ploof could be suspended or fired, but first he will have to deal with the warrant for his arrest.