A DeKalb County Watershed Department employee was arrested and fired this week for allegedly deceiving a resident into paying him about $2,300 for overdue water and sewer bills.
Questions by Channel 2 Action News prompted an investigation by the county and police, resulting in the arrest Tuesday of Christopher Deshon Jackson, 43.
Angela Sheffield, a DeKalb water customer, told Channel 2 that Jackson first came to her door in May and pressured her into giving him a cash payment.
“He said if you don’t then we will pull your meter and you can’t have any service until you pay your bill in full,” Sheffield said.
Sheffield contacted Channel 2 when she realized her payments to Jackson weren’t being credited to her account.
Police arrested Jackson after a sting operation Tuesday. Detectives watched as Jackson took $300 from Sheffield, police said.
Jackson was charged with theft by deception, and he declined to comment after his arrest.
DeKalb never sends employees door-to-door to collect payments for water bills, said county spokesman Burke Brennan told Channel 2.
“This was clearly a rogue employee who was doing something illegal and, thanks to WSB, got caught,” Brennan said.
Lt. Brian DeLoach said DeKalb police are researching whether there were other victims.
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