Fired Bibb County sheriff's deputy indicted

A Bibb County sheriff's deputy who was fired and arrested earlier this year has been indicted in connection with an August incident at a gas station in which he allegedly choked and pointed a gun at a customer.

Albert James Jordan faces charges including aggravated assault and violation of oath by a public officer, according to a release from the Macon Judicial Circuit District Attorney's Office.

The 52-year-old was wearing plain clothes Aug. 19 when he walked inside a Citgo station on Rocky Creek Road and saw 25-year-old Michael Hodges buy tobacco without showing his ID to the store clerk.

Jordan told investigators that the clerk, Sanjay Patel, had asked for an ID but Hodges didn't produce it. Jordan said to Hodges that he was a sheriff’s deputy and that Hodges could not buy tobacco or alcohol without showing his ID, Jordan told investigators, according to an incident report.

Patel later told investigators he hadn’t asked for an ID because Hodges was a regular customer.

Jordan said Hodges "tried to get physical" and that he restrained Hodges with one arm and put his right hand on his gun.

Hodges told investigators he suspected Jordan was intoxicated when Jordan “grabbed him by his neck, pushed him up against the glass by the booth ... broke his items” and pointed a gun at him, the report said.

The sheriff office's internal affairs investigators found Jordan was in violation of several policies including violation of rules, unbecoming conduct and conformance to laws, courtesy, use of force and use of weapons.

Laura Corley 744-4334; @Lauraecor

This story was originally published December 14, 2017 at 5:12 PM with the headline "Fired Bibb County sheriff's deputy indicted."