Prometheus 6

Hutchins, the spokesman for the family of Kathryn Johnston, the elderly woman shot and killed by Atlanta police officers in November, said the whole matter was an "unfortunate misunderstanding" that someone used to embarrass him....

"I checked my statements [Monday] and he never made a deposit in January, February or March," Hutchins said. "The man went to the court and got the warrant in May. It is December now. Why did it take so long? It was $275. Had I known that [the warrant] existed, I would have paid it."

Activist calls jail on check charge a 'witch hunt'
Auto detailer paid Tuesday for year-old work
By ERNIE SUGGS, NANCY BADERTSCHER
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 12/13/06

Activist Markel Hutchins spent about 45 minutes in the Forsyth County Jail on Tuesday on a misdemeanor charge that he wrote a bad check for $275 last December to a man who worked on his car.

Hutchins, the spokesman for the family of Kathryn Johnston, the elderly woman shot and killed by Atlanta police officers in November, said the whole matter was an "unfortunate misunderstanding" that someone used to embarrass him.

"They wanted to fingerprint me. And they did," Hutchins said. "They wanted my mug shot. They got it. This was a witch hunt. This was clearly an attempt by somebody to discredit my work and my leadership. People see this for what it is."

Capt. Frank Huggins, spokesman for the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office, said Hutchins went to the Magistrate Court late Tuesday afternoon, was recognized by a deputy and arrested.

He was booked and released after posting a $450 bond. Hutchins said he also paid Tim Hill, the man who worked on his car, the $275 he owed him, and expects the case to be thrown out.

"I would only hope that the courts will do the right thing and dismiss all the charges," Hutchins said. "As far as I am concerned, it is over."