Update: Rockmart Police Chief Keith Sorrells said there is little he can say about the arrest of one of his officers until the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) completes its probe.

"Our hands are tied because it's an ongoing investigation," Sorrells said. "I want to be fair to him and I also want to be fair to the department and the citizens of Rockmart."

A GBI press release stated their Calhoun office arrested officer Randy Poole, 46, a Rockmart resident, this week, charging him with one count cruelty to children in the second degree.

Sorrells confirmed he requested the internal investigation Feb. 10. The investigation stemmed from allegations being made to the Rockmart Police Department, according to the GBI press release.

However, Sorrells said he can not elaborate on whether the allegations were rooted in personal incident or an incident while on duty.

Pool has served as a patrolman with the Rockmart Police Department for four years, Sorrells said. The chief said Pool had around five years of police experience before he came to the RPD. He was an officer in the north metro Atlanta area, specifically the Doraville-Chamblee-Tucker area, Sorrells said.

During the investigation, Tallapoosa Judicial Circuit DA Bobby Brooks was consulted and it was decided that sufficient probable cause existed to charge Poole, according to the GBI. Special Agent April Wells is the Bureaus’ case agent.

Poole was released on his own recognizance Thursday.

Previously posted: A Rockmart police officer is on paid leave after his arrest by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Thursday.

Randy Poole, a patrolman with the Rockmart Police Department, is charged with second-degree cruelty to children.

Rockmart Police Chief Keith Sorrells said the arrest is a personnel matter and he could not release any additional information beyond that issued by the GBI in a brief press release.

"It is an ongoing investigation," Sorrells said.

According to the GBI:

The Calhoun office of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation has arrested Randy Poole, a four year officer of the Rockmart Police Department.

The arrest was the result of a request for an investigation from Rockmart police Chief Keith Sorrells.

Sorrells requested that the Georgia Bureau of Investigation conduct the inquiry on Feb. 10 after allegations were made to the police department.

During the investigation, Tallapoosa Judicial Circuit District Attorney Bobby Brooks was consulted and it was decided that sufficient probable cause existed to charge Poole.

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The original story is from a GBI press release