NCST News Just after 9 AM on May 29th, 2024, E911 received a call from an employee at Southside Wrecker of South Highway 29 stating that a vehicle had been stolen from their impound lot.
Deputies with the Coweta County Sheriff’s Department were dispatched to the location. One of those deputies decided to canvas the stores around exit 41 along South Highway 29, while the other deputy responded directly to the scene.
This decision would turn out to be fruitful when the deputy located the truck that was reported stolen, with another SUV behind it, in the large truck gas pumps behind the BP Truck Stop. A male was observed beside the truck, as well as Broughton, who was driving the SUV behind the truck were detained by the deputy.
The Theft and Investigation
Editors Note: NCST requested and was provided the case supplemental report that includes the deputy’s narrative of the incident. We are providing the text of that report below. We’ve redacted the name of the male party in this incident due to the fact no charges were brought against them. We’ve also redacted the name of the Southside Wrecker Employee out of privacy considerations.
CASE SUPPLEMENTAL REPORT
On 5/29/2024 I, D.S. Wood, responded to the area of 678 S Highway 29 in reference to a theft. While en-route to the address I was advised by 911 that a male and female took a truck off of their wrecker yard without paying. I was also advised that the vehicle was heading south on Hwy 29 towards the interstate. Before going to meet with the caller I checked the BP truck stop at exit 41 to see if I could locate the truck. I was also advised by 911 that the female involved stated that she was the Officers supervisor in South Fulton PD.
While checking the back fuel pumps I located a truck matching the description that the caller gave. I confirmed it was the same truck by the tag number provided which was on the front of the vehicle. I got out with it and observed a male, [ REDACTED MALE ], on the side of the truck and detained him. The female, Letitia Broughton, was in a silver SUV behind him and when she walked up I detained her as well. I informed them what was going on and why they were being detained. They both advised that they had left the impound yard with the truck after the officer that had it towed sent Southside an email telling them to release it at no cost.
Letitia stated that the vehicle had been parked near their house in South Fulton and Officer Fullerton with the PD had the vehicle towed due to it being illegally parked. She stated that she talked to him and had him send the email because it had been towed by mistake and showed me the text messages between the 2 of them on her phone. While talking to them the caller, [ REDACTED EMPLOYEE ], who was an employee at Southside arrived at the location. I asked her what was going on and she stated that [ REDACTED MALE ] and Letitia came to the yard trying to get the truck out of impound. She stated that she told them the price and they stated that it was towed by mistake.
[ REDACTED EMPLOYEE ] stated that she told them in order to release the truck they needed something from the Officer or department releasing it. She stated that was when Letitia made contact with Officer Fullerton and had him send Southside an email. The email stated who he was and that he was requesting the truck be released with no charge. [ REDACTED EMPLOYEE ] stated that she did this and released it to [ REDACTED MALE ]. She stated that she thought it was weird and called the owner to get conformation on the email and what to do. She stated that the owner advised her that someone needed to pay and he called South Fulton Pd. She stated that he talked to a Sam Harper and he advised that was not something that they did at the PD and [ REDACTED MALE ] would have to pay. [ REDACTED EMPLOYEE ] stated that she also thought Letitia was employed with South Fulton due to her statements and how fast she was able to get Officer Fullerton to send an email to them.
[ REDACTED EMPLOYEE ] stated that one of the employees went out to the yard since they were still there and let them know that the fee needed to be paid but [ REDACTED MALE ] nor Letitia drove past him without stopping. [ REDACTED EMPLOYEE ] stated that she had everything on her computer and the entire incident was recorded on video that also had audio. Lt. Addis went back to Southside with [ REDACTED EMPLOYEE ] to watch the video and see the paperwork while I waited. While waiting I made contact with Sgt. Pierre with South Fulton Pd. to confirm the email and see if Letitia worked for them. He stated that was not something that they did and Officer Fullerton should not have sent the email. He stated that he was going to have to call someone else to confirm and he would get back with me. He also stated that Letitia did not work for them and had not been employed for over a year.
Lt. Addis was able to send me the video from the Officer and you can hear Letitia state that the Officer that towed the vehicle was one of “Her” officers and that he did not know her neighborhood. She also stated that she was “his supervisor and she was trying to stay calm” because he towed the vehicle and shouldn`t have because everyone knew that was their trucking company. After I viewed the video I was contacted by Lt. Freeman with South Fulton Pd and informed him of what was going on. He stated that Officer Fullerton did not have the authority to send the email to Southside requesting the truck be released at no cost and that [ REDACTED MALE ] was responsible for making the payment. He also confirmed that Letitia did not work for their agency and had not for over a year due to getting arrested and other issues. He stated that he would get with Officer Fullerton and his supervisor to correct the issue.
Due to all of this I advised Letitia that she was being placed under arrest for Impersonating a Peace Officer and placed her in the back seat of my patrol vehicle. Lt. Addis and I talked to [ REDACTED MALE ] and he stated that he would just pay the impound fee to the wrecker company to make everything right. Lt. Addis escorted him back to Southside wrecker where he was able to pay the fee where he would not get arrested and Letitia would not get charged with it as well. I then transported Letitia to the Coweta County Jail where she was turned over to jail staff for processing. Letitia was charged with Impersonating a Public Officer due to her stating that Officer Fullerton worked for her and she was his supervisor at South Fulton Pd. making [ REDACTED EMPLOYEE ] think she was currently employed with them.
This incident was recorded on my body worn camera.
Booking Information
Letitia Broughton, 40, of Fairburn, GA was arrested and booked into the Coweta County Jail on May 29th, 2024, for the following charge(s).
IMPERSONATING A PUBLIC OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE (F)
This particular charge requires a first appearance for a bond to be set. What that bond was set at is unknown, however as of the writing of this article on June 1st, 2024, she is no longer an inmate at the Coweta County Jail.
More about Leitita Broughton’s History
As is mentioned in the above narrative, Broughton was at one point a Corporal with the South Fulton Police Department. We’ve been able to confirm that through a March 16th, 2022, Instagram Post on the SFPD official account.
In the above narrative, the deputy was told that Broughton had not worked at the SFPD for over a year and mentioned an arrest. I have searched long and far for any record of Broughton’s arrest and/or a case in the metro area. I’ve been unable to locate any information thus far.
I was able to locate a mention of Broughton’s apparent hiring by the Clayton County Sherrif’s Office in a newsletter published by the Fraternal Order of Police, Fulton County Lodge #64 in June 2023.
Waiting for more Information
We’ve reached out to the South Fulton Police Department for a statement regarding the incident, including their actions regarding a current officer ( Officer Fullerton ), using his position in the furtherance of Broughton’s attempted theft and impersonation.
We’ve also reached out to the Clayton County Sheriff’s Department in an attempt to confirm Broughton’s employment status regarding the announcement in the newsletter.
I’ve also reached out to other sources in the area in an attempt to obtain any information regarding Broughton’s previous arrest or charges that lead to her firing from the SFPD.
I will update with more information when it becomes available.
