Veteran Douglas County sheriff's captain resigns during sexual misconduct probe

DOUGLASVILLE, Ga. (FOX 5 Atlanta) - The Georgia Bureau of Investigation has launched a probe into allegations of sexual misconduct involving veteran Douglas County Sheriff's captain Bruce Ferguson.

These allegations have rocked the sheriff's office in Douglas County, not just because of their nature but the location where they allegedly took place.

Ferguson should be a familiar face to news viewers. Whenever there's been a major crime in Douglas County in recent years, Ferguson would be the point man to answer reporter questions.

Over his 31-year career, he rose from a jailer to head of investigations.

But according to the Douglas County sheriff's office, earlier this month the 52-year-old Ferguson suddenly resigned during an internal affairs investigation.

Two sources close to the alleged victim tell the FOX 5 I-Team that investigation started with a complaint from a female Sheriff's Office employee. They say she accused Ferguson of grabbing her breast and exposing himself in the woman's office. This allegedly happened on the same floor as the office where Ferguson's wife works as secretary to the chief deputy.
    
The GBI confirms they have started a criminal investigation into those allegations.

In a written statement, sheriff Tim Pounds said the case started February 19th with a complaint that Captain Ferguson had "engaged in acts of sexual harassment and misconduct in the workplace."

The sheriff said they "take all complaints of this nature seriously."

He is refusing to release their internal affairs findings, though, arguing that case is still open, even though Ferguson resigned nearly two weeks ago.