Dalton Police Department arrests suspect in sexual assault case

Published 11:18 am Tuesday, March 11, 2025

The Dalton Police Department arrested 53-year-old Phillip Kevin McKinley of Chatsworth on two counts of sexual battery and one count of sexual assault by a person with supervisory or disciplinary authority in the second degree. McKinley turned himself in at the Whitfield County jail on March 4.

The arrest followed an investigation of a Feb. 12 report that was filed by a woman who was performing community service at the Dalton Convention Center as part of her probation. The woman told police McKinley, who was the maintenance and janitorial services supervisor, touched her without her consent while she was at work. The woman said McKinley proposed paying off probationers’ fines and reporting increased amounts of community service hours in exchange for sexual favors. The Dalton Police Department investigated the allegations and developed probable cause to obtain warrants for McKinley’s arrest.

The Dalton Police Department is still investigating. Anyone who has information about McKinley is asked to please contact Detective Chris Tucker at (706) 278-9085, extension 9-165.