Two Metro Atlanta Police Officers Arrested in Separate Cases, Both Fired

Two Metro Atlanta police officers — one in Cobb County and another in Atlanta — have been arrested in separate criminal cases and fired from their departments, raising sharp questions about police accountability across the region.

Cobb County Officer Arrested

Matthew Abbott, 36, of Marietta, a Cobb County police officer, was arrested Thursday morning and charged with felony violation of oath of office, two counts of public indecency, and one count of distributing obscene materials.

According to warrants, Abbott is accused of sending electronic messages describing sexual acts with children between the ages of 8 and 12. Investigators say the incident happened in February while Abbott was on duty inside Cobb Police Precinct 4 in East Cobb.

He also faces accusations of two separate incidents of public indecency in June. On June 2, Abbott allegedly exposed himself in the parking lot of Kincaid Elementary School while on duty. A week later, he allegedly engaged in a sex act in the parking lot of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Powder Springs.

Cobb Police spokesperson Officer Aaron Wilson confirmed Abbott has been relieved of duty. “We are cooperating fully with investigators to ensure accountability,” Wilson said. “We are committed to full transparency and will continue to provide updates as this investigation moves forward.”

Interim Police Chief Dan Ferrell called the allegations “extremely disturbing,” adding, “The people of Cobb County expect and deserve officers who uphold the law and conduct themselves with integrity, both on and off duty. These allegations do not reflect the values of our department.”

Several parents raised concerns that they were not notified of the actions of Abott that allegedly occurred near their children’s elementary school, Kincaid.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is now leading the case, which began after Cobb Police learned Abbott had been identified in a separate probe by the Utah Attorney General’s Office. Abbott is being held without bond at the Cobb County Jail.

Atlanta Officer Arrested

In a separate case and troubling case, the Atlanta Police Department says former officer Muhammad Muhammad was arrested after being accused of sexually assaulting a woman in June.

According to investigators, the victim reported the assault to police on June 6. She told officers she had arranged to meet Muhammad at a home on Sparks Street to provide professional massage services. She said Muhammad became aggressive, touched her inappropriately, and ignored her repeated requests to stop.

At some point, she told investigators, Muhammad sexually assaulted her. The victim also said he brandished a firearm, threatened her, and took back the money he had initially paid for the session before leaving the scene.

The Atlanta Police Department confirmed Muhammad was immediately terminated from his position after the allegations surfaced. Detectives with the Special Victims Unit are leading the investigation.

A Pattern of Troubling Cases

The arrests of Abbott in Cobb and Muhammad in Atlanta come amid broader concerns over misconduct within law enforcement across the state.

Both officers were fired immediately after the allegations came to light, but community leaders say the damage to public trust lingers.

“These cases highlight a critical issue of accountability,” said one local official. “Citizens need to know that the people sworn to protect them aren’t abusing their power in the worst possible ways.”

As investigations move forward, residents are left to ask: What is going on with Metro Atlanta police officers?