Former Cop Faces Charges in Forsyth of Selling Firearms to Felon

By Kristal Dixon and Hunt Archbold

A former officer with the Alpharetta Police Department has found himself on the other side of the law.

The Forsyth County Sheriff's Office has charged Craig Allen Garner, 54, with two counts of party to a crime in connection to selling firearms to a convicted felon, the agency said Friday afternoon in a press release. 

Garner, who lives in Dawson County, turned himself in just after 7:30 a.m. Friday to the Forsyth County Detention Center. He was released Friday afternoon after posting a $22,220 bond.

Cumming resident Michael Cummings, 44, has also been charged with two counts of possession of a firearm by convicted felon and one count of criminal solicitation. He is being detained without bond due to his probation requirements stemming from another county. 

Alpharetta Department of Public Safety spokesman George Gordon said the agency can't discuss the specifics of the case, but noted that as of Thursday, Garner was not an employee of the city.

"At this time we believe the behaviors which led to his arrest occurred solely while he was in an off-duty capacity," he added.

Garner had been employed with Alpharetta for 23 years, Gordon said. Garner, who had been a Lieutenant with the department until being demoted to Officer two weeks ago, resigned from the force on Thursday.

The agency had been notified by Forsyth County in relation to their investigation, and Gordon said "we are grateful for their courtesy and of course we will cooperate with them fully."

WSB reported Friday that an assault rifle was among the two weapons sold to Cummings, who in 1996 served time for aggravated assault, burglary, false imprisonment, and theft by taking.

Cummings and Garner became acquainted through a motorcycle club founded by Garner the news outlet reported.

Stay with Patch for updates.