Barrow County fire chief arrested

ATLANTA – Barrow County’s fire chief was among five people arrested as part of a seven-month-long investigation into financial irregularities at the Cairo Community Network Services (CNS).

Barrow County Fire and Emergency Chief Donald Towne, 40, of Statham, was charged with a single count of theft by taking, the GBI said Friday. Also charged, according to the GBI, were:

  • Tiffany Fowler, 30, of Cairo, who faces five counts of theft by taking and five counts of computer theft
  •  James Whigham, 68, of Cairo, who faces two counts of theft by taking
  •  Christine Tuning, 30, of Tallahassee, Fla., who faces a single count of theft by taking and a single count of false statements
  •  Allan Womble, 29, of Cairo, who faces a single count of theft by taking

Towne’s fire career began in 1986, according to his county bio, and he was named Cairo’s fire chief in 2007. Towne was offered the Barrow County position in May.

The South Georgia Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office requested the GBI investigation.