Comedian Katt Williams won't face charges in alleged kidnapping

By Christian Boone

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Comedian Katt Williams, fresh from an overnight stay in the Coweta County Jail, will not be charged in an unrelated incident involving a 17-year-old boy, a sheriff's deputy confirmed Tuesday.

The youth called 911 last Tuesday night, claiming Williams was holding him against his will at the Newnan estate where Williams is staying while in town filming a movie. The 38-year-old actor and television personality was arrested there Sunday night after the estate's caretaker, Daniel Broach, claimed Williams broke into his home and stole nearly $4,000 worth of jewelry and collectible coins.

The teen's allegations weren't nearly as specific. Coweta Sheriff's Office Maj. Mike Kinsey said the deputy who responded to last Tuesday's 911 call wasn't able to substantiate any of the boy's claims.

"It seems there was nothing going on," Kinsey said.

The unidentified 17-year-old told the 911 operator "[Williams] threatened to beat me up" if he attempted to leave the Smokey Road mansion. The boy said he had a flight to catch at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.

"I had a ride, and he wouldn't let our ride take us there," the teen told authorities. "We're here with him and he's not letting us leave."

The youth asked the operator to send a deputy to the property owned by record producer Barry Hankerson, a friend of the comedian.

"I don't want to deal with it, I just want to get away from him," the teen told a sheriff's deputy. When asked if Williams had any weapons, the youth said, "I think so ... I don't really know."

Williams was arrested twice in the last three years for gun violations, though the latest charge, filed a year ago in New York City, was dropped. The comedian (birth name: Micah Williams) is still on probation for a 2006 incident at Los Angeles International Airport.

"We didn't find any firearms and there was no sign anyone was being held against their will," Kinsey said.

Williams still faces a felony burglary charge, which the comedian attributed to "a misunderstanding between me and two stupid detectives." The Dayton, Ohio native was released from jail Monday on $41,150 bond.

Williams' credits include the comedy "First Sunday" and the Eddie Murphy film, "Norbit." He also headlined an HBO special, "Katt Williams: Pimp Chronicles Pt. 1," shot in Atlanta.