Former Trion Police Officer Arrested Following Allegations of Excessive Force
TRION, Ga. – A high-speed motorcycle pursuit on Wednesday, June 4, 2025, ended in criminal charges for a former Trion Police officer after allegations of excessive force surfaced.
Around 1:00 p.m., two agents with the Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit Drug Task Force attempted to stop a motorcycle near Ridgeway Road, north of Trion. The motorcyclist refused to stop, leading to a pursuit that continued to Wade Drive off Mahan Road. Deputies responded to the scene, but the chase had already ended and Drug Task Force agents were in the process of arresting the suspect.
The first responding deputy assisted in restraining the suspect. A second deputy arrived several minutes later. The suspect was transported to jail, but then taken directly to a local emergency department due to injuries sustained during the arrest.
Both deputies later reported witnessing what they believed to be excessive force used by one of the Drug Task Force agents after the suspect had been handcuffed. Investigators reviewed their reports and consulted with the agent’s employer, prompting the involvement of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI).
On Wednesday, June 18, the GBI’s Region One Office in Calhoun secured an arrest warrant for 52-year-old Joel “Chris” Wooten of Summerville. Wooten, a former officer with the Trion Police Department and a former member of the Drug Task Force, was charged with Aggravated Battery and Violation of Oath by a Public Officer, both felonies.
Wooten is accused of striking the handcuffed suspect in the face multiple times, causing visible injuries. He was booked into the Chattooga County Jail and released the same day on a $20,000 bond issued by the Superior Court.
“This incident falls outside the standards of acceptable law enforcement conduct and should never happen,” said Sheriff Mark A. Schrader. “I thank my deputies for doing the right thing and reporting what they saw, and I appreciate the cooperation of Trion Police Chief David Gilleland and the leadership of the Drug Task Force.”
The GBI investigation remains ongoing. Once complete, the case file will be turned over to the Chattooga County District Attorney’s Office for prosecution.
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the GBI. Tips may be submitted anonymously by calling 1-800-597-TIPS (8477), online at gbi.georgia.gov, or through the “See Something, Send Something” mobile app.
