FORMER CARTER COUNTY SHERIFF ARRESTED FOR ASSAULTING DEPUTIES

A former Carter County Sheriff has been arrested after assaulting deputies. The Carter County Sheriff's Office reports that George Papantoniou, who was the county sheriff from 1976-82, arrived at the Justice Center on Wednesday to collect firearms that were taken from him earlier this year after he brandished them at a neighbor during an argument. His neighbor died two weeks ago, so the district attorney ordered that Papantoniou's firearms be returned to him, since the case could not be prosecuted. At the center, Papantoniou refused to comply with deputies that were trying to help him and he became "very aggressive," escalating until he pushed one of the deputies. He continued his assault until he was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct and assault. Papantoniou was booked into the Carter County Detention Center but has been released on a $1,000 bond. 

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