Protest At DeKalb Jail Turns Violent | Four Arrested

DECATUR, GA -- Organizers of a protest outside the DeKalb County jail that resulted in four arrests are calling for another gathering Thursday evening at 7 pm. According to police, four people arrested during Wednesday afternoon's protest at the DeKalb County Jail are still in custody after their court appearances were rescheduled Thursday morning. Evan Himebaush, 23, of Blue Ridge, Georgia; Cameron Michelson, 20, of Decatur; Brandon Sowers 33, and Dianna Settles, 29, both of Atlanta, are all charged with disorderly conduct and obstructing highways, streets, sidewalks or other public passages, both misdemeanors.

About 85 people marched from the Kensington MARTA station and onto Memorial Drive and adjacent sidewalks to hold a protest at the jail. According to posts on social media, the demonstration was to be hosted by the Atlanta Incarcerated Workers Organizing Committee, which alleges mistreatment of jail inmates.

The same group protested at the jail on April 12, when they threw smoke bombs and firecrackers into the jail lobby and caused minor injuries to a police officer. Arrests were made following that incident.

According to a statement from the DeKalb Sheriff’s Office, law enforcement agencies tried to manage the protest to keep it from interfering with rush hour traffic. The arrests were made after they allegedly refused to comply with directions to stay off the roadways.

Organizers were protesting alleged mistreatment of inmates at the jail, as well as reported unsanitary conditions.

“It is unfortunate that the groups involved chose not to meet with this office to address their allegations," said DeKalb Sheriff Jeffrey Mann. "We believe that many of these young people are very well-intentioned. The problem is that they are reacting emotionally and to a barrage of misinformation provided by seriously unreliable sources. We would really like them to learn the facts about how we fulfill our constitutional mandate to serve the public safety needs of this community and those of the more than 1,800 individuals currently in our custody.”