DPD Officer Rain’a Butler suspended without pay

The City of Donalsonville has placed Donalsonville Police Officer Rain’a Butler on suspension without pay pending the outcome of her hearing on witness tampering charges in Miller County, and pending her Georgia Peace Officer Standards Training investigation. 

Interim City Manager Jeff Hatcher commented, “At this time, her certification is suspended but not revoked. We have taken this action based on advice from our City Attorney and a recommendation from Police Chief Pugh.” The City of Donalsonville is not involved in this investigation or trial as the alleged incident occurred outside of Officer Butler’s duties.

Butler’s suspension without pay is a direct result of her case being true billed by the Miller County Grand Jury, and her being placed under house arrest after having her bond revoked last week in Miller County for violating  the possession of dangerous weapons stipulation listed in her special conditions of bond.

As earlier reported, on Monday, February 20 the Miller County Grand Jury returned a true bill of indictment on Donalsonville police officer Rain’a Butler on felony charges of witness influencing in Miller County.

A true bill is an indictment which has been presented to a grand jury and endorsed as valid. When the grand jury determines that an indictment is a true bill, it means that the grand jury believes that the charges have merit and the accused should be brought to court to answer to them.

Records show Rain’a Butler turned herself in to authorities and was arrested last Fall in the city of Colquitt. She was booked at the Miller County Jail and released on her own recognizance.

According to a report from the Colquitt Police Department, a statement on how the Donalsonville Police Department’s school resource officer allegedly influenced a witness last Fall in Colquitt states Corporal Rain’a Butler, who worked for the Donalsonville Police Department but lives in Colquitt, approached her neighbor and questioned him about providing a statement against her brother.

Butler admitted to the neighbor that she saw his name listed in relation to her brother’s case and that she would get his probation revoked for being a witness, the report states.

That conversation was then reported to the police.

Butler has been employed with the Donalsonville Police Department since 2020.  

This is a developing case and additional details will be posted when they become available.