Just days before the 2026 NFL draft, Zachariah Branch was arrested in Athens, Georgia, on charges of obstructing a public sidewalk and obstruction of a law enforcement officer. According to authorities, Branch refused multiple police commands to move away from the sidewalk so that pedestrians could access local businesses.
He was booked around 1:26 am and two hours later, he was released on a $39 bond. Recently, a new detail has emerged that clearly suggests what really happened.
According to the incident report obtained by Dawgs247, a large crowd gathered to block the entry and exit of the bar in the area of Cloud Bar on Clayton St. at around 12:18 am ET. The crowd was trying to get inside the bar, which was in the process of closing and was not allowing any entries. As a result, officers were clearing the sidewalks so that pedestrians exiting from the bar and other adjacent businesses could access the path.
As the reporting was clearing the sidewalk, a male, later identified as Branch continued to ignore the commands, leading to the official taking swift action and arresting him.
“I continued to give Zachariah Branch verbal commands to move from blocking the sidewalk and advised that if he did not, he would receive a citation for blocking the sidewalk,” the reporting officer wrote. “Zachariah Branch smirked, then stepped backwards and to the right, then remained standing upon the public sidewalk, so as to obstruct, hinder, and impede free passage upon the sidewalk as well as impede free ingress/egress to or from the adjacent places of business.
“Due to those actions and Zachariah Branch’s failure to comply with multiple verbal lawful commands, he was placed under arrest for misdemeanor obstruction of LEO and received a citation for obstructing public sidewalks.”
Legal Expert Claims Zachariah Branch’s Arrest Was Not Necessary
A legal expert who has no standing on this case claimed that Zachariah Branch’s arrest was “over the line” and unnecessary, given the circumstances. Metro Atlanta trial attorney Bruce Hagen called it “absolute waste of resources.”
Even though Branch may not have obeyed the police command, the use of handcuffs was extreme, per the attorney.
Attorney Michael Kaufman wants the entire footage to determine whether the arrest was warranted. Hagen added that he will be “shocked” if this arrest affects Branch’s NFL draft result.
Branch enters the NFL draft after playing his last season for the Georgia Bulldogs. The USC transfer posted a school record with 81 receptions. He was in Athens to attend the G-Day spring game and sign autographs for fans.
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