Operation Deadbeat Parents

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. - DeKalb County Sheriff Deputies hit the streets Wednesday for “Operation Deadbeat Parents.” Deputies with 130 arrests warrants in hand for parents not paying child support.

Major L.J. Roscoe who oversees the operation said it is intended to take place around the holidays.

“It is such a sensitive time and we are trying to ensure that the children in DeKalb County have a good Christmas,” said Major Roscoe. “They are unable to do that when they have a parent that is not supporting them.”

The 24 deputies in teams of two visited the more than 100 locations on file. FOX 5’s Nathalie Pozo spent Wednesday afternoon with Deputy Mario Hearnes and Cpl. Tyrone Fountain who at one location arrested a father who owed $23,000 in child support.

Deputies had visited 105 of the 135 locations and 14 arrests were made. 10 of the 14 arrests were on child support arrest orders which represented approximately $160,000 in unpaid child support. The parents arrested must pay a "purge amount" in order to get out of jail. Deputies said that money goes directly to the child and/or children. The purge amount is sometimes determined by the petitioner.