A former Bibb County Sheriff’s Office sergeant, Jennifer Emory, has filed a lawsuit against two colleagues and Goodwill Industries of Middle Georgia. The suit alleges that after Emory reported findings of excessive force in the jail death of Deputy Christopher Knight, she became the subject of a criminal investigation that ended her law enforcement career.
According to court records, Emory claims she was falsely accused of stealing from Goodwill after investigating the 2021 death of Deputy Knight at the hands of inmate Albert Booze. Her internal affairs investigation concluded that Knight had unjustly used force against Booze prior to his own death.
The lawsuit details how Emory’s findings indicated Knight punched Booze in the face during an altercation before Booze killed him. The Macon district attorney’s office previously described this sequence and called it indicative of “deeply concerning practices at the Bibb County Jail.” In July, Booze pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and aggravated battery and received a sentence including prison time and probation.
After reporting her findings, Emory says she “became the target of two criminal investigation(s)” and ultimately left her position after more than 21 years with the sheriff’s office.
Emory is suing deputies Brannon Grace and Brian Grady, as well as Goodwill Industries, alleging they conspired against her. She claims Grace and Grady provided false information leading to her arrest for theft by deception and violation of oath by a public officer. The suit also accuses them of violating her constitutional rights under the 4th and 14th Amendments and intentionally inflicting emotional distress. Goodwill is named because Grace was acting within his employment scope with the organization at the time.
Neither the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office nor Goodwill have responded publicly to these allegations. No legal responses from Grace, Grady or Goodwill had been filed before publication.
Emory began working off-duty security for a Goodwill Career Center in Macon at Grace’s request in 2020. According to the lawsuit, she was assigned to provide security for students attending evening classes but received no formal training or instruction regarding where she should be during shifts.
The lawsuit describes how on April 6, 2021, Emory investigated Knight’s death following an incident involving inmate Albert Booze who suffered from mental health issues. After flooding his cell with toilet water and throwing it on a deputy, Booze was taken by Knight and other officers to an area without surveillance cameras inside the jail. There, according to Emory’s report cited in court documents, Knight removed handcuffs from Booze then punched him “in retaliation for throwing toilet water.” A fight ensued; Booze took Knight’s pocket knife and fatally stabbed him.
About one month later, Grady reported Emory for allegedly stealing $3,700 from Goodwill by claiming she failed to work required hours as security staff—allegations which prompted an administrative leave pending investigation. The lawsuit states that despite being directly involved as a witness in these events, Grace was assigned to investigate Emory—a move characterized in court filings as unethical.
During interviews conducted as part of this investigation, both Grace and Grady reportedly made conflicting statements about whether Emory needed to remain onsite throughout each shift or could come and go as needed for errands or early departures.
Despite this uncertainty over job expectations, authorities arrested Emory on July 19, 2021; she resigned days later. Ultimately no indictment followed when a grand jury declined charges against her.
“Defendants’ actions have caused Plaintiff damages including, but not limited to, severe emotional distress, humiliation, reputational harm, diminished standing in the community, embarrassment, and outrage,” according to language included in Emory’s complaint.
