Georgia mayor, councilman, city clerk arrested for putting tracker on police chief’s car

Written by: A. Smith

Published October 17, 2025 @ 8:40 AM ET

BERRIEN COUNTY, Ga. – Three city officials in the small south Georgia town of Enigma have been arrested after allegedly coercing someone to place a tracking device on the police chief’s patrol vehicle, authorities said.

Acting Mayor Doug Webb, Councilman Ronald Harbin, and City Clerk Latasha Luke were each taken into custody after Police Chief Tony Perkins said he discovered the device while washing his city-issued vehicle on Oct. 1. Perkins said he immediately began investigating and obtained arrest warrants a week later, on Oct. 8.

According to warrants, Webb faces charges of stalking, eavesdropping, conspiracy to commit a crime, criminal solicitation, and violation of oath of office. Harbin is charged with stalking, eavesdropping, conspiracy to commit a crime, and violation of oath of office. Luke faces charges of conspiracy to commit a crime and criminal solicitation.

Perkins said the three allegedly pressured another person to attach the device to his vehicle, an act that violates state law.

“I will uphold the laws of the state of Georgia — no matter what your last name is or what your title is,” Perkins said. “I’m going to continue to do that for the town of Enigma. They made some really bad decisions, and those decisions they’re going to have to live with.”

Perkins told WALB he believes he can remain impartial in the case despite being the alleged victim, noting that he has served as police chief for only five months and has sought guidance from other law enforcement agencies that support his handling of the investigation.

It’s unclear why the officials wanted to track Perkins’ movements. The incident follows months of turmoil in the city government, which has been mired in controversy since early this year.

In January, Enigma’s bank accounts were frozen after officials discovered about $100,000 in uncashed checks in a city closet. That same month, Webb was arrested for disorderly conduct following a heated argument during a council meeting.

The city, which had gone months without a police department, voted in May to hire a police chief, and long-time Mayor Cecil Giddens retired in July after 38 years in office. Webb was appointed acting mayor, and the town celebrated Giddens’ retirement in August.

Now, Webb, Harbin, and Luke are each facing felony charges that could reshape leadership in the town of about 1,000 residents, located roughly 50 miles north of the Florida line.