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Zach Branch Arrested Post GDay for two "Obstruction" charges..updated with police report
Posted on 4/19/26 at 10:44 am
Posted on 4/19/26 at 10:44 am
"The former Georgia wide receiver, who hopes to hear his name called in this week’s NFL draft, was arrested on Sunday on one charge of obstructing public sidewalks/streets - prowling and one charge of obstruction of a law enforcement official. Both are misdemeanors.
Per the Athens Clarke County Arrest log, Branch was booked at 1:26 a.m. on Sunday, April 19 and released on $39 bond at 3:44 a.m. ET."
LINK
Police report
Per the Athens Clarke County Arrest log, Branch was booked at 1:26 a.m. on Sunday, April 19 and released on $39 bond at 3:44 a.m. ET."
LINK
Police report
quote:
NFL Network has obtained the police report on the misdemeanor charges against Zachariah Branch, who was arrested while standing on a public sidewalk for not moving far enough when a police officer asked him to move:
“A male, later identified as Zacharia Branch, continued to stand on the sidewalk without making an attempt to move. I continued to give Zacharia Branch verbal commands to move from blocking the sidewalk and advised that if he did not, he would receive a citation for blocking the sidewalk. Zacharia Branch smirked, then stepped backwards and to the right, then remained standing upon the public sidewalk, so as to obstruct, hinder, and impede free passage upon the sidewalk as well as impede free ingress/egress to or from the adjacent places of business. Due to those actions and Zacharia Branch’s failure to comply with multiple verbal lawful commands, he was placed under arrest for misdemeanor Obstruction of LEO and received a citation for Obstructing Public Sidewalks.”
This post was edited on 4/19/26 at 2:26 pm
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Posted on 4/19/26 at 11:12 am to Wwarmouth
In my life experience and travels, I feel I can safely say that you can be arrested in Athens for shite most police will not arrest you for.
Posted on 4/19/26 at 11:45 am to Peter Buck
Pretty insane it is still operated this way. Thought when the williamson guy left maybe it would change
Posted on 4/19/26 at 12:00 pm to Wwarmouth
quote:
Pretty insane it is still operated this way. Thought when the williamson guy left maybe it would change
If you are referring to Jimmy Williamson, he never, ever had anything to do with the running of the ACCPD.
Posted on 4/19/26 at 12:15 pm to Wwarmouth
That obstruction streets-prowling charge is going to be a local ordinance. I checked Municode, and they are listed together under ordinance 3-4-23.
LINK
The state charge would be loitering and prowling. It looks like the elements of the ordinance are roughly the same as the state charge.
EDIT TO ADD: He was not charged with the prowling portion of the ordinance. He was charged for obstructing the sidewalk.
LINK
The state charge would be loitering and prowling. It looks like the elements of the ordinance are roughly the same as the state charge.
EDIT TO ADD: He was not charged with the prowling portion of the ordinance. He was charged for obstructing the sidewalk.
This post was edited on 4/19/26 at 8:57 pm
Posted on 4/19/26 at 12:24 pm to New Money
Ahh I remember him being mentioned on older boards as a bad guy. Thought he was the police chief. Was he just UGA police?
Posted on 4/19/26 at 12:24 pm to Wwarmouth
quote:
obstructing public sidewalks/streets - prowling
Thank God prowling wasn’t a crime when I was in Athens.
Posted on 4/19/26 at 1:59 pm to SquatchDawg
quote:
quote:
obstructing public sidewalks/streets - prowling
Thank God prowling wasn’t a crime when I was in Athens.
You do a lot of running from the cops in Athens?
Posted on 4/19/26 at 2:25 pm to meansonny
quote:
NFL Network has obtained the police report on the misdemeanor charges against Zachariah Branch, who was arrested while standing on a public sidewalk for not moving far enough when a police officer asked him to move:
“A male, later identified as Zacharia Branch, continued to stand on the sidewalk without making an attempt to move. I continued to give Zacharia Branch verbal commands to move from blocking the sidewalk and advised that if he did not, he would receive a citation for blocking the sidewalk. Zacharia Branch smirked, then stepped backwards and to the right, then remained standing upon the public sidewalk, so as to obstruct, hinder, and impede free passage upon the sidewalk as well as impede free ingress/egress to or from the adjacent places of business. Due to those actions and Zacharia Branch’s failure to comply with multiple verbal lawful commands, he was placed under arrest for misdemeanor Obstruction of LEO and received a citation for Obstructing Public Sidewalks.”
Power tripping cop. What a joke
Posted on 4/19/26 at 2:40 pm to Wwarmouth
quote:
Power tripping cop. What a joke
That doesn't sound like prowling at all.
And I personally dont understand how someone (the body size of one individual) is blocking a sidewalk. What is moving along the sidewalk that can't maneuver around one individual?
Posted on 4/19/26 at 2:44 pm to Wwarmouth
Contempt of Cop. This is the problem, Branch was being an a-hole but really, you got better shite to do.
Posted on 4/19/26 at 2:58 pm to meansonny
The written description is a little bit too ridiculous. I hope we can get some body cam of this one.
Also, based on the description, you'd think there'd be a public intox slapped on as well. But there isn't.
Very strange.
Also, based on the description, you'd think there'd be a public intox slapped on as well. But there isn't.
Very strange.
This post was edited on 4/19/26 at 3:00 pm
Posted on 4/19/26 at 3:04 pm to meansonny
quote:
You do a lot of running from the cops in Athens?
Not as far as anyone knows.
Posted on 4/19/26 at 3:05 pm to meansonny
Twilight was in town too and the sidewalks are always packed due to that anyways. Very odd. Sounds like branch rage baited the cop into getting arrested...which he probably should have thought twice about but I still blame the cop more.
Posted on 4/19/26 at 3:27 pm to SquatchDawg
quote:
You do a lot of running from the cops in Athens? Not as far as anyone knows.
Posted on 4/19/26 at 3:36 pm to meansonny
quote:
And I personally dont understand how someone (the body size of one individual) is blocking a sidewalk. What is moving along the sidewalk that can't maneuver around one individual?
Public sidewalks are that for a reason. Even a half-arse attorney squashes this.
Posted on 4/19/26 at 3:52 pm to SecGamer
Jimmy Williamson was not bad as far as I am going to say. There were some student UGA cops who could either be very cool or very not cool depending on their thoughts of you and your assosciations.
Posted on 4/19/26 at 4:19 pm to Peter Buck
My freshman year the UGA PD set up on top of the Parking Garage by Russell to catch kids smoking joints.... A little ridiculous I'm a college campus.
Posted on 4/19/26 at 6:16 pm to deeprig9
quote:
The written description is a little bit too ridiculous. I hope we can get some body cam of this one.
Prowling is when you are somewhere that you probably should not be.
Someone of authority approaches you and you either flee or lie to that authority (usually flee).
It is actually very, very difficult to make a trespassing charge stick. More often than not, those get charged as prowling.
Posted on 4/19/26 at 6:26 pm to meansonny
quote:
Prowling is when you are somewhere that you probably should not be.
Now Crazy Heart is going to be stuck in my head for a week.
But there's worse songs to get stuck in the head.
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