HollyMatkinCanton, GA – The founder of the anti-police group Georgia Cop Block was arrested for impersonating a police officer and interrupting law enforcement radio traffic on Thursday, police said.
Jonathan Beavers, 29, has been charged with four counts of harassing communications, two counts of obstruction of an officer, and one count of impersonating an officer, Cherokee Sheriff’s Office (CSO) Sergeant Marrianne Kelley told the Cherokee Tribune and Ledger-News.
“The Criminal Investigations Division identified the suspect as Beavers and executed a search warrant at his residence. Investigators located evidence to further their investigation,” Sgt. Kelley said.
Beavers resides with his mother, Woylene Waldroup, who denied that her son would ever think to impersonate an officer.
“He would never do that. Never,” Waldroup told WSB-TV.
But the evidence seemed to point to the contrary.
“Cherokee Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division working in conjunction with the Cherokee Marshal’s Office brought this potentially dangerous interference with Public Safety to a successful conclusion,” Sgt. Kelley told the Cherokee Tribune and Ledger-News.
Beavers is the founder of Georgia Cop Block, an affiliate of a national unorganized collective called Cop Block, the Cherokee Tribune and Ledger-News reported.
Beavers frequently listened to police communications on his scanner, and would respond to locations where officers were dispatched, WSB-TV reported.
He would then record law enforcement officers’ actions using his cell phone.
“We highlight the double standard that some grant to those with badges by pointing to and supporting those harmed,” the Georgia Cop Block Facebook page said.
His father, Milton Beavers, claimed that his son was arrested because he is trying to hold police accountable for their actions.
“That’s the first thing they said when they came through the door, ‘Cop Block,” Milton told WSB-TV. “They have a vendetta against Jonathan.”
“They busted through the door. I made them go get the search warrant. They were in there looking for some sort of CDs,” Waldroup said.
Even after investigators allowed Beavers’ parents to listen to the radio call that led to his arrest, they said they still were not convinced it was the voice of their son.
“They may have some audio stating that is Jonathan, but you actually have to prove Jonathan actually mashed that button and that button wasn’t mashed accidentally,” Waldroup argued.
Using the slogan “Badges don’t grant extra rights,” the national group encourages harassing officers and recording the interactions.
Cop Block founder Adam Mueller, also known as Ademo Freeman, was arrested in February for drug trafficking. He then sold the group’s Facebook page with over one and a half million followers to a media company that works to make money off of anti-police fake news.
He then sold the near-worthless Cop Block website at auction to somebody who appears to have all-but abandoned it.
Another notable Cop Blocker is Robert West, AKA “Uncle Bob,” a registered sex offender known for going to the homes and private property of former Portland Police Chief Mike Marshman, Portland Police Captain Mark Kruger, Portland Police Sergeant Leo Besner, and Multnomah County DA Rod Underhill, resulting in his arrest.
Beavers is currently being held at the Cherokee County jail without bond.
Do you think that Cop Blockers are just jealous that they aren’t police officers? We’d like to hear what you think. Please let us know in the comments.