Ex-Braselton officer resigns after domestic incident

BRASELTON - A former Braselton police officer, charged in Hall County in a domestic incident, has resigned from his job after first making an appeal to stay on the force.

Officer Ray Rutledge was arrested in December on battery and cruelty to children charges for allegedly pushing his ex-wife and a child.

Braselton Assistant Police Chief Lou Solis said there was an internal investigation after the charges were filed.

"I recommended to the chief that we give Ray Rutledge the option to resign, and if he didn't resign, then of course we'd have to recommend that he be terminated," said Solis.

The 36-year-old Rutledge initially appealed his firing, but just last week changed his mind and resigned from his job. The city accepted the resignation the same day.

The domestic case is still pending in Hall County.