Details emerge surrounding arrest of former Georgia WR Zachariah Branch
By Sydney Hunte
Published:
Former Georgia wide receiver Zachariah Branch was arrested in Athens early Sunday morning on a pair of misdemeanor charges, just days before the start of the 2026 NFL Draft on Thursday.
Branch was released on bond shortly after being booked, but a police report was not immediately available. Later on Sunday, more details emerged surrounding his arrest.
NFL Media’s Tom Pelissero posted a portion of the report from Athens-Clarke County (Ga.) police on social media. Branch was arrested while standing on a public sidewalk for not moving far enough when a police officer asked him to move:
A male, later identified as Zacharia [sic] Branch, continued to stand on the sidewalk without making an attempt to move. I continued to give Zacharia 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. Zacharia 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.
Branch faces charges of obstructing public sidewalks/streets – prowling and obstruction of a law enforcement officer, both misdemeanors. After being held for over two hours, he was released after posting bonds totaling $39.
Branch was back in Athens for Georgia’s annual G-Day game. His younger brother, Zion, a Bulldogs safety, is entering his second year with the program.
Sydney is an Atlanta-based journalist who has covered everything from SEC and ACC football to MLS, the U.S. men's national soccer team and professional tennis. His work has appeared on such platforms as SB Nation, Cox Media Group and FanSided.
