Area briefs: animal abuse probe in Braselton, police officer on leave in Commerce

The Commerce Police Department says Commerce Police Officer Jacob Wood is on administrative leave while the GBI reviews complaints about some of the cases Wood has made for drivers arrested on suspicion of DUI.

The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office and Jackson County Animal Control are investigating a case of reported animal neglect, with upwards of three dozen dogs and cats found at a home near Braselton. The Sheriff’s Office in Jefferson says charges are possible.

A special election is set for May 21 to fill a seat on the Gainesville City Council, an opening created with the January death of 38-year Council veteran George Wangemann. There are two years remaining on Wangemann’s term as Gainesville’s Ward 2 Council member.

Carol Burrell says she will be retiring as the head of the Gainesville-based Northeast Georgia Health System.

Clay Barros had a first appearance in Gwinnett County court Thursday: he’s the father charged, along with his wife, the murder of 8 year-old Sayra Barros. 34 year-old Natiela Barros, the little girl’s stepmother, is accused of beating Sayra Barros with a wooden rolling pin at the family’s home in Bethlehem.

A Cobb County man gets a 20-year prison sentence, his punishment for the kidnaping of a girl who was abducted in Barrow County. James Reynolds is 25 years old, from Acworth. He’s still facing additional charges in the 2020 case of a girl who was at the time 12 years old. The Barrow County Sheriff’s Office says the girl was sexually assaulted after she was abducted.

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