A missing computer may play a role in why city business remains all but halted for the second week in the embattled city of Lithonia.

The power struggle that has played out for the past week with Mayor Joyce McKibben and the council now has McKibben facing three misdemeanor charges, according to newly released police reports.

Police have charged McKibben with theft, obstruction of justice and disorderly conduct for allegedly trying to remove her city-issued computer from City Hall on April 7.

That computer remains in evidence. But a Dell computer tower in the city clerk's office also is missing.

That computer might be in the mayor's locked office, where some items had been moved from the clerk's office, according to the reports.

Newly hired city clerk Victoria Bateman has not been inside City Hall yet to work because of the missing files and computer.

Bateman, an administrator in the police department before her promotion last Thursday, has continued to do work inside the police station.

The police have been at the corner of the showdown. McKibben tried to fire police Chief Willie J. Rosser on April 7, only to have council reinstate him hours later.

That struggle was inflamed by McKibben's tussle with a city police officer over the computer, the arrest of two of her aides and the locking of City Hall for three days.

McKibben also did not show Friday to sign and cut checks for city employees.

Workers were paid a day late, on Saturday, when Bateman and Councilwoman Tonya Peterson signed the paychecks. A planned mediation session between the council and mayor was postponed Wednesday night, leaving City Hall dark for the second week.

All sides, though, seem ready to call a truce. No new date has been set for a mediation meeting.

The City Council is slated to hold a workshop meeting Monday to discuss items for the May agenda.