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Residents accuse selective policing and report possible water contamination at Villa Rica council meeting
Summary
At the May 12 council meeting, public commenters alleged the city police declined to investigate harassment because the alleged harasser is related to the mayor, and another resident reported visible fecal contamination in local streams and health effects; council members said investigations and video evidence exist and staff offered to follow up.
Several residents used the council’s public comment period on May 12 to raise accusations about local law enforcement and environmental health.
Pamela White told the council she had been harassed by another private citizen, reported the incident to Villa Rica Police, and was told police would not investigate because the alleged harasser’s mother is the mayor. “They will not investigate her because her mother is the mayor,” Pamela White said, adding that she was directed to pursue magistrate‑level remedies and that she had been told witnesses were not contacted.
Councilman Bar responded in the meeting that the police did conduct an investigation, referred the matter to the county sheriff’s department for an independent review, and that video and incident reports are available via open records requests. “They did do an investigation. They also sent it down to the sheriff’s department,” he said, noting he had obtained camera footage that he said contradicts some claims.
Amy McCoy raised a separate environmental concern, saying she had video evidence of fecal material in local streams and described an odor‑related incident that affected her health. She said she first raised the issue in June 2024 and urged council to treat water health and accessibility as core civil‑rights issues. “I have taken video showing the amount of feces sitting in these streams,” Amy McCoy said in public comment.
Mayor reminded commenters that staff will follow up on issues raised during public comment if residents provide contact information. The meeting record shows council offered to have staff contact commenters who left information, but no on‑the‑record independent environmental assessment was presented at the meeting.
What remains unresolved: Pamela White’s allegation that the mayor’s family ties prevented police action was contested by a council member who cited an internal and sheriff’s‑department review; the transcript does not record follow‑up results. Amy McCoy’s environmental claims were not substantively answered in the meeting; staff follow‑up was offered.
Next procedural step: Commenters were advised to use open records and to provide contact information for staff follow‑up; the police chief was scheduled to be available at the end of the meeting, according to earlier agenda remarks.
