Atlanta inspector general probe says watershed managers detained coworkers for hours during missing wallet search
Investigation details alleged detention of five employees during April 2024 incident
An Atlanta oversight investigation has concluded that six employees in the city’s Department of Watershed Management engaged in conduct that meets the legal elements of felony false imprisonment, after coworkers reported being detained for hours during an internal search for a missing wallet.
The findings were outlined in a report finalized in November 2025 by the city’s interim inspector general. The incident under review occurred in April 2024, when a supervisor reported that her wallet was missing and a group of employees were directed into a conference room as the search unfolded.
Who the report names and what it alleges happened
The report identifies six watershed employees as having committed “abuse of position” and as having met the elements of false imprisonment under Georgia law. Those named are:
- Yolanda Broome, deputy commissioner of administration
- DeValory Donahue, manager II
- Sterling Graham, director of safety, security, and emergency management
- Mischa Roberson, senior investigator
- Rina Bradley, senior investigator
- Joe Fortson, senior investigator
Investigators determined that five coworkers were held for multiple hours during the incident. The report describes allegations that a uniformed police officer was positioned outside the conference room door and that employees were not permitted to leave while the search continued.
Employees also alleged that they were instructed to empty pockets and that personal belongings and work areas were searched without consent. The report describes claims that some staff felt pressured to participate in what they characterized as a forced internal inquiry and to sign documents they said were difficult to read or understand.
The report concluded the conduct met the elements of false imprisonment under Georgia law and constituted an abuse of position by the employees involved.
Timeline and potential next steps
The inspector general’s findings followed earlier outreach by inspector general staff to state and federal law enforcement agencies in March 2025 regarding the same incident. As of the most recent public reporting, city leadership had not announced disciplinary outcomes tied to the findings, and the watershed department’s operational response to the report had not been detailed publicly.
Broader context for city oversight
The case also highlights the role—and limits—of Atlanta’s oversight mechanisms in producing findings that may require action by other agencies for potential prosecution or employment discipline. The inspector general’s office can investigate and make determinations, while charging decisions and employment sanctions typically depend on law enforcement and city administrative processes.
No criminal charges were announced in connection with the incident in the report at the time the findings were summarized publicly, and the status of any referrals to law enforcement has not been publicly confirmed.