A former member of area law enforcement and an announced candidate for Waycross City Commission was arrested last week on three charges related to an apparent domestic dispute.
Tanner Farmer, former Police Chief in Pearson, was arrested at 1:40 a.m., Wednesday, June 4 and charged with a felony and two misdemeanors according to booking information at the Ware County Jail.
Farmer was charged with Aggravated Assault (family violence) as well as Battery (family violence first offense) and Cruelty to Children in the third degree. The aggravated assault charge is a felony.
He was released later Wednesday on $10,000 bond, records show.
Farmer was named as the Pearson Police Chief on June 26, 2024. He succeeded Walter Burkhalter and resigned April 15, 2025.
A resident of the Cherokee Heights area of Waycross, Farmer announced on social media earlier this year a candidacy for the vacant District 4 City Commission. Numerous “Tanner Farmer” campaign signs have been visible throughout the district for the past few months.
Farmer
The seat was formerly held by Diane Hopkins, who died January 29 after 20 years on the commission.
Although Farmer announced an intention to seek the District 4 post, candidates can’t officially qualify to run in November’s Municipal Election until August 19-22. In addition to the vacant seat, those for Commission Districts 1-3 will also be on the ballot.
Assistant City Attorney Huey Spearman said Friday, June 6 there’s nothing written in the City Charter preventing someone with a criminal record from serving on the commission. He said Section 9 of the charter offers only age, city citizenship, residency in the district, and voting qualifications for eligibility.
A Facebook page dealing with Farmer’s candidacy for the District 4 seat has been removed.
