Charges dropped against ex-Lithonia mayor

By Megan Matteucci

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

DeKalb County has dropped criminal charges against the former Lithonia mayor, but she still must stay off the Lithonia Housing Authority’s property.

Ex-Mayor Joyce McKibben was arrested in 2008 on criminal trespass charges at a Lithonia Housing Authority property. Police said she refused to leave a city-subsidized housing complex and pushed two officers during a confrontation.

This week, the solicitor’s office agreed to dismiss those charges, Deputy Chief Assistant Solicitor Angel Riley told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Thursday.

“We dismissed the case because while she was given warning to get off the property, the law requires the warning must be given by an authorized agent of the property,” Riley said.

Prosecutors did not have evidence to prove the employee who told McKibben to leave was in a management position, Riley said.

Following the charges being dropped, the Lithonia Housing Authority issued a warning telling McKibben not to return to their property. McKibben could be prosecuted if she returns, Riley said.

McKibben’s attorney, Mawuli Mel Davis, said the ex-mayor was helping a Somalian refugee family move out when the scuffle occurred.

“The charges were an attempt by the Lithonia Housing Authority and the Lithonia Police Department to thwart Ms. McKibben’s advocacy on behalf of the poor and disenfranchised,” Davis said.

McKibben was recalled from office in September 2008 after serving nine months as mayor. During her brief tenure, she sued the city and fired the police chief, only to have him rehired by the council several hours later.