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MARCH 2 - 8, 2023 www.THECHAMPIONNEWSPAPER.com VOL 32 • NO. 36 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 Chief deputy retires after 30 years; sheriff names replacement PAGE 2 LOCAL English programs to expand for refugees, immigrants in Clarkston PAGE 7 SPORTS Arabia Mountain triple threat combines for DeKalb sued over shooting during ‘mental health crisis’ BY JAY PHILLIPS JAY@DEKALBCHAMP.COM The family of Matthew Zadok Williams and its attorneys announced Feb. 18 that they filed a lawsuit against DeKalb County for the violating the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). On April 12, 2021, Williams was shot by DeKalb law enforcement officers in his home. Attorneys from Davis Bozeman Law Firm—which is representing the family—alleged that Williams was suffering a mental health crisis when he was shot. Davis Bozeman Law Firm officials said the civil lawsuit names DeKalb County as the sole defendant and alleges a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 for "failing to make reasonable modifications to policies, practices, and procedures, and the failure to provide reasonable accommodations." According to the attorneys' announcement, Williams also called 911 on March 16, 2021, requesting an ambulance because he was suffering a mental health crisis. The news release states that officers who responded to Williams' home referred to the call as a "behavioral health crisis," but the DeKalb County is being sued over the death of Matthew Zadok Williams, whom attorneys argue was shot by law enforcement during a mental health crisis. File photo attorneys said the officers did not provide any mental health support or resources. According to a news release from Davis Bozeman Law Firm, on March 16, 2021, no ambulance was called, no mental health professional was consulted by the officers, no report was generated, and officers did not make a mental health referral for Williams. DeKalb County has a Mobile Crisis Unit (MCU) which was created to assist DeKalb County Police Department officers when responding to crisis situations. The MCU was never sent to Williams' home on March 16 or April SEE CRISIS ON PAGE 6 Miles Bryant, right, is a former Doraville police officer who has been charged with kidnapping and murdering 16-year-old Susana Morales, left. File photo Former Doraville police officer charged with kidnapping, murder BY CHRISTINE FONVILLE CHRISTINE@DEKALBCHAMP.COM A former Doraville police officer has been charged with kidnapping and murdering a 16-year-old girl. On Feb. 22, officials with Gwinnett Police Department announced they had charged Norcross resident Miles Bryant, 22, with kidnapping and felony murder in connection with the death of Susana Morales. Bryant was already in custody at Gwinnett Detention Center on charges of concealing the death of another and false SEE DORAVILLE ON PAGE 6 SWD wrestlers win several state championships 3,000 PAGE 12 VISIT US ONLINE @ THECHAMPIONNEWSPAPER.COM 64116 00001 BY JAY PHILLIPS JAY@DEKALBCHAMP.COM Southwest DeKalb High School wrestlers Isaiah Scott, Jerrel Baskins, and Dharrin Smith won state championships on Feb. 18 in Macon, while teammate Jayden Hammonds was a runner-up for the Southwest DeKalb Panthers and head coach Keith Johnson. The individual state championships for Scott (4A- 215 weight class), Baskins (4A-175), and Smith (4A-157) marked Southwest DeKalb's wrestling program's first state championships since Rock Ya-Sin—now a defensive back for the NFL's Las Vegas Raiders—won a title in 2014. The state titles combined with Hammonds' (4A-138) fourth place finish also gave Southwest DeKalb a third overall finish in 4A - which Johnson said was especially SEE WRESTLING ON PAGE 13 Southwest DeKalb High School won three state championships and had a runner-up at the 4A wrestling state championship meet. Photos provided U/e'V S>Ci0l/ @DEKALBCHAMPNEWS
