Former Braselton Police Chief Arrested Over Alleged Misuse of License Plate Reader System

JACKSON COUNTY, Ga. — The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) arrested Michael Steffman, the now-former police chief of Braselton, on multiple charges stemming from an alleged misuse of the city’s automated license plate recognition (LPR) system to stalk and harass individuals.

Steffman, 49, was taken into custody without incident on Nov. 19 and booked into the Jackson County Jail.  He is charged with Violation of Oath by a Public Officer, Stalking, Harassing Communications, and multiple counts of misusing the LPR system for non-law-enforcement purposes.  He was later released on a $13,000 bond. 

According to the GBI, the investigation was initiated at the request of the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office and lasted for several months.  Investigators say they found evidence that Steffman used the automated plate recognition data to harass and track multiple people. 

One accuser claimed that Steffman followed her to a residential neighborhood and to the Gas South Arena, calling her from different phone numbers and monitoring her movements via license plate cameras.  She previously sought a temporary protective order, but a judge denied it at the time, citing insufficient evidence. 

Steffman had served with the Braselton Police Department since 2005 and was named interim chief in late 2024.  He officially became chief in April 2025.  On the morning of his arrest, town officials announced his resignation; in a social media post, his departure was attributed to “personal reasons.” 

Braselton’s Town Manager, Jennifer Scott, issued a statement expressing disappointment in the charges, but affirmed the town’s commitment to due process. “These matters require the former chief’s full personal attention … As we look ahead, our priority remains ensuring the safety and protection of our citizens,” she said. 

The case file will be referred to the Piedmont Judicial Circuit for prosecution, according to the GBI.  Meanwhile, the investigation remains ongoing, and officials have not disclosed how many people may have been targeted or the full extent of the alleged misconduct.