Columbus Police Officer and Wife Arrested on Child Cruelty Charges

Columbus, GA (BuzzReport) — A Columbus police officer and his wife have been arrested and charged in connection with alleged crimes involving children, according to authorities.

Officials say Officer Leonard Forsyth faces multiple charges, including felony cruelty to children in the first degree, theft by taking, family violence, and abandonment of a dependent child. His wife, Katelynn Forsyth, has been charged with the same offenses.

Court records indicate the couple’s combined bond totals $5,000, and stay-away orders have been issued as part of the case.

The Columbus Police Department confirmed Forsyth has been removed from duty and no longer holds police authority following the arrest. Another officer referenced in the department’s statement, Ulises Hernandez, has also been removed from duty.

In a statement addressing the situation, the department said:

“The actions alleged in these cases do not represent the values of the Columbus Police Department or the hundreds of officers who serve this community with professionalism and integrity every day.”

Authorities have not released additional details about the circumstances leading to the charges. The case will now proceed through the court system as the investigation continues.