Georgia Police Sergeant Resigns After Child Cruelty Arrest Just Weeks After Celebrating Promotion

A Georgia police sergeant praised only weeks ago for her leadership and dedication has resigned after being arrested on child cruelty and assault charges — marking another legal crisis for an officer already facing a separate criminal case stemming from a fatal on-duty crash.

Shada Canzater, 35, was arrested Aug. 31 by deputies with the Houston County Sheriff’s Office. The Hapeville Police Department confirmed Thursday that she had resigned following the arrest.

Canzater faces charges of first-degree cruelty to children, aggravated assault and simple assault related to family violence. Her bond was set at $5,000.

Authorities have not publicly disclosed the circumstances that led to the latest charges, leaving the allegations behind the arrest largely unexplained.

Promotion celebrated just weeks before arrest

The timing of Canzater’s arrest is particularly striking because she had only recently been promoted to sergeant.

On Aug. 5, the Hapeville Police Department publicly celebrated the promotions of Canzater and two other officers.

Police Chief Bruce M. Hedley praised the officers at the time for their “dedication, hard work, commitment to professional growth” and the trust they had earned from colleagues and the community.

“Leadership is more than a title, it is a commitment to serve, mentor and set the example for others,” Hedley said in the announcement.

Less than a month later, Canzater was under arrest.

Following the new charges, Hedley announced that she had resigned from the department.

Records from the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council show Canzater had worked for Hapeville police since May 2019 and received two promotions during her time with the agency.

Latest arrest follows another criminal case

The Aug. 31 arrest is not Canzater’s first encounter with the criminal justice system.

She was arrested in July 2024 in connection with a September 2023 crash involving her police vehicle that ultimately resulted in the death of 63-year-old Atlanta attorney and Air Force veteran Donell Holiday.

Canzater was charged with four misdemeanor offenses: two counts of second-degree homicide by vehicle, failure to yield the right of way at a crosswalk and failure to yield the right of way to a pedestrian.

The case has faced several legal delays, with a final plea hearing scheduled for later this month.

Canzater’s professional records also indicate that she was the subject of an internal investigation in 2024, although it is unclear whether that review was connected to the fatal crash.

Fatal collision occurred while Canzater was on duty

According to affidavits from the earlier case, Canzater was on duty and driving a marked patrol vehicle along Central Avenue in Atlanta when the collision occurred.

She was traveling toward the Fulton County Courthouse and stopped at a traffic light at Martin Luther King Jr. Drive.

Her patrol vehicle was reportedly second in line to make a turn.

When the light changed, the vehicle ahead of her proceeded through the intersection. Holiday was crossing the street at the time.

Court documents say Holiday had already crossed two lanes and was approximately two to three feet outside the marked crosswalk when Canzater’s vehicle approached.

The affidavit alleges that Holiday raised his hands in an attempt to signal for Canzater to stop moments before the front of her patrol vehicle struck him.

Holiday suffered severe injuries and was taken to a hospital, where he underwent brain surgery.

He survived for more than six months before dying on March 8, 2024.

Canzater was arrested approximately four months later.

Officer now faces two separate legal matters

The latest arrest places Canzater in an unusual position: she is now facing serious allegations in one case while another criminal proceeding connected to her time as a police officer remains unresolved.

The new child cruelty and assault charges are separate from the fatal traffic case.

Officials have not released information explaining who was allegedly involved in the Aug. 31 incident or what conduct prosecutors say led to the charges of first-degree cruelty to children, aggravated assault and simple assault involving family violence.

Canzater’s resignation also represents a dramatic reversal from the department’s public celebration of her promotion less than a month earlier.

On Aug. 5, she was being recognized as an officer trusted to take on greater responsibility and leadership.

By Aug. 31, she was under arrest.