Newspaper Page Text
FEBRUARY 23 - MARCH 1, 2023
www.THECHAMPIONNEWSPAPER.com
VOL 32 • NO. 35
e CHAMPION
The official legal organ of DeKalb County, EA. Serving East Atlanta, Avondale Estates, Brookhaven, Chamblee, Clarkston, Decatur, Doraville, Dunwoody, Uthonia, Pine Lake, Tucker, Stonecrest and Stone Mountain.
504
LOCAL
MARTA
investment
marks “historic
day”for
Stonecrest
PAGE 2
LOCAL
GoFundMe
donations help
Decatur man
with heart
transplant
expenses
On Feb. 17, a Fulton County judge denied
an emergency temporary restraining order
challenging permits recently approved by
DeKalb County in the construction of a police
training center. File photo
Judge denies
appeal to halt work
at police training
facility site
BY CHRISTINE FONVILLE
CHRISTINE@DEKALBCHAMP.COM
Former county commissioner
gets probation for extortion
BY JAY PHILLIPS
JAY@dekalbchamp.com
Former DeKalb County
Commissioner Sharon Barnes Sutton
was sentenced to three years of
probation and nine months of home
detention on Feb. 14, according to a
report from Law360.
Barnes Sutton was found guilty
by a jury in Atlanta on Nov. 2,
2022, of extorting a DeKalb County
subcontractor in connection with a
$1.8 million contract.
According to court documents
and evidence presented at
trial, from about May 2014 to
August 2014, Barnes Sutton, 63,
of Stone Mountain, demanded
monthly payments of $500 from a
subcontractor. She later increased
her demand to $1,000 per
Sharon Barnes Sutton bypassed prison time
after being found guilty of extortion during
her time as a county commissioner. File
photo
month. The subcontractor made the
first $500 payment in June 2014 at a
restaurant in Decatur and the second
PAGE 7
SPORTS
DeKalb
basketball teams
advance to state
playoffs
PAGE 12
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SEE BARNES SUTTON ON PAGE 6
Doraville police officer arrested in
connection with death of missing teen
A Fulton Countyjudge has denied an
emergency temporary restraining order
by a group that includes DeKalb County
Commissioner Ted Terry and members
of the South River Watershed Alliance,
challenging permits recently approved
by DeKalb County in the construction of
a police training center.
The hearing took place on Feb. 16
and the ruling came in on Feb. 17.
In their appeal document, plaintiffs
argue that work should stop on the
property, which is located in DeKalb
County but owned by the city of Atlanta,
while appeals are being filed.
On Feb. 15, officials with DeKalb
County released documents that include
land disturbance permit reviews, a
timeline, and a report of inspection
for the property located at 1350
Constitution Road and 561 Key Road.
On Feb. 2, the DeKalb County
Planning and Sustainability Department
(DCPSD) issued a land development
permit initiating Phase 1 of the land
development process for the property.
Phase 1 prohibits "mass grading or
land disturbance," according to DCPSD
documents.
In the inspection report, officials
noted that, "DeKalb County received
BY CHRISTINE FONVILLE
CHRISTINE@DEKALBCHAMP.COM
A Doraville police officer
has been arrested and charged
with felonies in relation to the
disappearance and death of a
16-year-old girl.
Miles Bryant, 22, of Norcross,
has been charged with false
reporting of a crime and concealing
the death of another in the case of
missing teenager Susana Morales
whose remains were discovered Feb.
6 after she had been missing since
July of last year.
On Feb. 13, officials with the city
of Doraville said they were "notified
that a now former police officer
was being served felony arrest
warrants by the Gwinnett Police
Department in connection with the
disappearance and murder of Susana
Morales."
Miles Bryant, a former officer with the
Doraville Police Department, has been
arrested and charged with felonies in
relation to the disappearance and death of
16-year-old Susana Morales. File photo
The statement by Doraville
officials continues, "the city of
Doraville and its Police Department
are fully cooperating with the
Gwinnett Police Department in its
investigation of Mr. Bryant. Our
prayers rest with the family and
friends of Susana Morales and
SEE APPEAL ON PAGE 6
SEE DORAVILLE ON PAGE 6
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