Georgia Briefly

Ex-Henry County Manager investigated for sexual harassment

ATLANTA (TNS) — The former county manager of Henry County was being investigated for alleged sexual harassment shortly before he resigned on May 10.

A female employee with the county accused Jim Walker of removing her cellphone from the back pocket of her pants and making suggestive remarks to her on several occasions. Those were just some of the allegations mentioned in the 25-page report the county human resources department submitted to the board of commissioners. Walker denied the allegations. HR officials interviewed the woman, Walker and about a half-dozen witnesses.

“We just laid out the facts. We did not make any recommendations,” said HR director Nedra Swift. “Obviously we need to have sexual harassment training. We’re assessing what’s been done and what needs to be done.”

GBI: Reported Soperton toddler drowning ruled homicide

MACON (TNS) — The death of a 2-year-old Soperton boy, who originally was reported to have drowned, was ruled a homicide.

Aerick McManus was unresponsive at about 9:45 a.m. Thursday when a call came into Treutlen County 911, according to a GBI news release.

An autopsy Saturday revealed the child died of blunt force trauma, said Eve Rodgers, Special Agent in Charge of the Eastman office of the GBI.

Porshia Johnson, 22, and her boyfriend Travis Jordan, 21, were arrested Sunday.

Jordan is charged with felony murder, malice murder, aggravated assault and cruelty to children, the release stated.

Johnson is charged with felony murder and cruelty to children.

More than 20 arrested in child sex sting

AUGUSTA (TNS) — More than 20 people including a funeral home director, soldier and corrections officers were arrested in a weekend operation aimed at curbing the exploitation of children.

The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office and Georgia Bureau of Investigation released some details of Operation Mayday in a news release and plan to provide more information later today.

According to the release, the 22 suspects, ages 19 to 52, were arrested after communicating with male or female children online and then traveling to meet them for the purpose of having sex. In addition, the operation targeted those who are willing to exploit children by purchasing sex with a minor and the recruitment of victims of child sex trafficking.

All of the suspects are being charged with criminal attempt to commit child molestation. Additional charges may be forthcoming.

Six of the suspects admitted to police they had previous sexual contact with children. One suspect had two firearms in his vehicle at the time of arrest.

All phones and digital devices were seized. Those devices will be processed and analyzed and additional charges may be filed after reviewing the results.

Along with the GBI’s Child Exploitation and Computer Crimes Unit, the Georgia Information Sharing and Analysis Center and the sheriff’s office, 16 additional law enforcement agencies and prosecutors’ offices participated in the operation as part of the Georgia Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.

Sumter County EMA to be part of big drill

AMERICUS (TNS) — Sumter County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) is to be part of a major exercise on Thursday.

Nigel Poole, Sumter EMA director, said the exercise will be about infectious disease and a weather-related event. The exercise includes Region K Hospital Coalition, and the following agencies: Sumter County EMA, Phoebe Sumter Medical Center, Magnolia Manor, Lillian Carter Retirement Center (Plains), Sumter Retirement Village (Plains), Americus Fire and Emergency Services, Sumter County Fire and Rescue, Gold Star EMS, Sumter County Sheriff’s Office, Middle Flint Regional 911 Center and several other agencies.

Poole said citizens should be aware of any radio traffic or observations they may encounter is for this exercise on this date.