LUMPKIN COUNTY, Ga.- On May 6 two Lumpkin County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a 911 call at Etowah River Campground for a reported assault. When the deputies arrived on the scene they learned of a dispute between the campground owner Jennifer Dawkins and a visitor to the camp Sharon Padin.

The dispute was due to Padin requesting the removal of a confederate flag off another person’s camper at Etowah River. Dawkins would not have the flag removed in order not to violate that individual’s first amendment rights. Dawkins offered Padin her money back and asked her to leave.

Padin refused to leave and also stated that she was a federal officer. She began recording the interaction and got in Dawkins’s face. Dawkins then slapped Padin causing her to fall and receive minor injuries to her elbows.

Deputies arrived on the scene and began trying to ascertain what happened between the individuals. Dawkins cooperated with the deputies while Padin did not. The officers spent one hour and fifty-five minutes at the incident trying to get Padin to cooperate. When they left they did tell both ladies that even though charges were not formally filed that day did not mean they could not be filed at a later date.

Padin then took to social media to talk about the incident. She made several claims that the Lumpkin County Police Department did not take a report and refused to speak with her. There have been many other videos posted on sites such as TikTok about the incident. To view part of the video you can visit https://www.instagram.com/p/CdeRrDOgwMC/.

The deputies handed their report over to a member of the investigation team. That officer conducted many interviews with witnesses and Dawkins. Padin would not cooperate with the investigation. With the findings, the Sheriff took the case to the District Attorney who filed warrants for both parties.

Dawkins is wanted for battery and Padin is wanted for trespassing and impersonating a law enforcement officer. Both ladies have been given until 5:00 p.m. Wednesday, May 27, to turn themselves in, after that time the warrants will be served. To contact the sheriff’s office about this case visit https://www.lumpkincounty.gov/154/Sheriffs-Office.

“I hate that the incident took place and that the deception that was put on social media. I wish we had more cooperation with the case,” explained Sheriff Stacy Jarrard.