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  • Months elapse before a veteran’s cancer is diagnosed by the Atlanta VA

    Months elapse before a veteran’s cancer is diagnosed by the Atlanta VA

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    ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – Calvin Jordan’s family is filled with relatives who answered the nation’s call for military service.

    Jordan himself served in the U.S. Army and fought in 1968 during the height of the Vietnam War.

    “We dropped Agent Orange,” the 73-year-old recalled. The now-banned chemical was dropped during the war, killing vegetation and crops, and has since been linked to cancers among American veterans.

    This past March, Jordan went to the emergency room at the Atlanta VA Medical Center to have a lump on his neck checked out. Jordan eventually got a scan of his neck while at the hospital, but said after his discharge, he never heard anything back.

    In July, Jordan scheduled another appointment, but the VA doctor said the hospital did not have a copy of his original scans. The images were later found, according to Jordan, but new scans were required.

    In August, Jordan received a second scan and biopsy. In September – seven months after his original visit to the VA – a doctor diagnosed him with cancer.

    Jordan said he learned the VA is so backlogged the facility can’t do the surgery or perform the required radiation treatments. He will undergo surgery to remove the mass at Emory Hospital on Nov. 18 and then receive further radiation treatments through his VA coverage.

    Delays in diagnosis and even longer waits for treatments are examples of the dilemmas local veterans allege against the Atlanta VA. They consider access to healthcare in Atlanta as their greatest battle.

    Atlanta News First Investigates found veterans could be waiting nearly half a year for appointments. And when their lives depend on early detection, some cancer patients fear untimely care could be life-threatening.

    “You [treat] cancer when its young; you don’t let it spread,” Jordan said. “This wasn’t even noticeable when I had my first CT scan. Now it’s like I’m growing a second head out the side of my neck.”

    These scans show the growth of the cancerous lump in Calvin Jordan’s neck.(WANF)

    Scans of the veteran’s neck show the cancerous mass is now nearly the size of a fist. The latest images were taken in August, but according to his March scans, he said the mass “was no bigger than maybe a thumbnail.”

    “This is the U.S., and veterans should be taken care of. I’m not doing this for me. I’m doing it for the young guys, the young girls that served. And they don’t deserve it. Atlanta VA just cannot handle the load,” he said.

    After Atlanta News First Investigates told Atlanta VA officials about Jordan’s case, the hospital reached out to him.

    When asked about backlogs and delays, a VA spokesperson said the facility offers same day walk-in care for mental health and primary care treatment. “One of VA’s top priorities right now is recruiting, hiring, and retaining clinical staff,” the spokesperson said.

    As of Oct. 23, according to data obtained by Atlanta News First Investigates, the average wait time to see an Atlanta VA specialist was 60 days. The longest was 162 days.

    Veterans are facing potentially deadly delays at the Atlanta VA.
    Veterans are facing potentially deadly delays at the Atlanta VA.(WANF)

    The location also faced a paperwork backlog last year. The Office of the Inspector General confirmed in an April 27, 2022, report, more than 17,000 mailed documents related to veteran care and claims went unopened last year.

    Veterans are facing potentially deadly delays at the Atlanta VA.
    Veterans are facing potentially deadly delays at the Atlanta VA.(WANF)

    Advocates say veterans deserve more but they end up with the least access to timely healthcare.

    “For them to come back and all they hear is, ‘thank you for your service,’ they don’t want to hear that from us,” said Scott Johnson, CEO of The Warrior Alliance, an organization helping serve metro Atlanta’s nearly 250,000 vets. With more than triple that number across the state, Johnson said, “collaboration is the only way.”

    Johnson advocates more private-public partnerships and funding will strengthen medical care options. Groups like his are acting as veteran liaisons, navigating healthcare, housing, education, and legal aid post-service in the army.

    Copyright 2022 WANF. All rights reserved.

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  • Hundreds in metro Atlanta walk to find a cure at Walk to End Alzheimer’s

    Hundreds in metro Atlanta walk to find a cure at Walk to End Alzheimer’s

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    ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – From start to finish, there was nothing but love, support, and hope at this year’s Walk to End Alzheimer’s.

    For Harriet Watson and her family, this was far more than just another walk. Her brother was diagnosed when he was just 50.

    “I hated when he couldn’t remember a lot of things, some of the family members he couldn’t remember,” she said.

    They were among the more than 2,000 participants, many sharing stories of how they watched their loved ones’ minds slowly decline.

    “First they lose the fact that their loved one doesn’t know who they are, then after that, it’s the actual death,” said Laura Aranda, with Greenwood Place Assisted Living and Memory Care.

    Spencer Graves’ mother was just 55 when she was diagnosed.

    “My mom actually handed the car keys to my dad and said ‘If that’s true if that’s what is happening, I don’t want to drive anymore,’” he said.

    Participants held flowers of various colors, each corresponding to their relationship to Alzheimer’s, whether that be a caregiver, an ally in the fight, someone battling the disease, or someone who has lost someone. Atlanta News First was a proud media sponsor, with anchor Brooks Baptiste emceeing and sharing his very own experience.

    “In the case of my grandfather, there wasn’t really a conversation about how he was slowly but surely declining,” said Baptiste.

    Baptiste hopes events like this can bring more awareness to the debilitating disease, and raise money for research.

    “Something specifically that we see in the black community…people do not want to address this challenge that is really plaguing our community,” he said.

    Organizers said this year’s walk and fundraiser was a hit.

    “We’ve raised $521,000 and some change,” said Amy Richardson, senior director of development, Alzheimer’s Association, Georgia chapter.

    The organization hopes to keep that momentum alive, as researchers race to find better treatment options and ultimately a cure.

    Copyright 2022 WANF. All rights reserved.

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  • ‘Tiger King’s’ Joe Exotic describes Atlanta federal prison as ‘bottom of hell’

    ‘Tiger King’s’ Joe Exotic describes Atlanta federal prison as ‘bottom of hell’

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    ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – The infamous reality TV star “Tiger King” Joe Exotic, whose real name is Joseph Maldonado-Passage, is now spending time in a cage at the Atlanta federal prison and he isn’t too happy about it.

    In posts to social media, Joe says that senators (Jon) Ossoff and (Raphael) Warnock and (Herschel) Walker are “all lying to you Black Voters of #Georgia because the Animals at the Atlanta #Zoo are living better than your loved ones are in here… .” He also describes the prison as “the bottom of hell.”

    In July, Sen. Ossoff opened hearings into alleged abuses and corruption at the U.S. Penitentiary in Atlanta.

    Ossoff, who is chairman of the Senate’s Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, told the panel that a 10-month bipartisan probe uncovered a “harrowing picture of a federal prison in crisis for many years.”

    RELATED: Inmate suicides, sewage backups, non-existent security cited at Atlanta federal pen

    “Conditions for inmates were abusive and inhumane, and should concern all of us who believe in our country’s constitutional traditions, that all people have an Eighth Amendment right to be free from cruel and unusual punishment and a Sixth Amendment right to counsel,” said Ossoff.

    After the hearings, federal officials nearly emptied the prison and banned several prison staffers.

    Ossoff recently inspected the prison and said that conditions at the prison appear to be improving. He also said it was too soon to declare the prison to be problem-free.

    RELATED: PSI Chair Osoff introduces major bipartisan bill to overhaul prison oversight

    The former 59-year-old zookeeper was sentenced to 22 years in prison in January 2020 after he was convicted to trying to hire two men to kill animal welfare activist and enemy Carole Baskin.

    He was also convicted of killing 5 tigers, selling tiger clubs and falsifying wildlife records.

    It is unknown why Maldonado-Passage is in the Atlanta prison or how long he will be there. He was diagnosed with prostate cancer after he was sentenced but is reportedly in remission. Recent media reports say he has been battling a common variable immunodeficiency and has been sick for the last few months. He was previously imprisoned at the Butner Federal Medical Center in North Carolina, which houses inmates with special needs.

    Atlanta News First received the following statement from the Bureau of Prisons:

    The BOP takes pride in protecting and securing individuals entrusted in our custody, as well as maintaining the safety of correctional staff and the community.  We make every effort to ensure the physical safety of inmates confined to our facilities through a controlled environment that is secure and humane.

    Copyright 2022 WANF. All rights reserved.

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  • ‘It needs to stop’ | Parents accuse coach of improper player recruitment

    ‘It needs to stop’ | Parents accuse coach of improper player recruitment

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    DOUGLAS COUNTY, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – Any parent of an athlete knows how competitive high school sports can be and how upsetting it can be when your child doesn’t get playing time.

    But parents at one metro Atlanta high school said their football program is recruiting and playing athletes who don’t even live in the district.

    Some Douglasville parents are alleging that Olten Downs, head football coach at Alexander High School, is recruiting teens who don’t live in the district. One parent even admitted she is allowing a recruit to use her address, even though he does not live with her.

    The Douglas County School System has confirmed an internal investigation was conducted. As a result, the district determined some conversations with prospective athletic parents had been “inappropriate” and said “appropriate corrective action” would be taken.

    Recruiting allegations

    Kimberly Churchill’s son has been playing football in Douglasville since he was old enough to walk.

    “He started off on the peewee football team, playing rec and then when he got to high school, he started playing on the JV level and varsity level,” Churchill said.

    As he entered junior year at Alexander High School, Churchill’s son had dreams of being a starter. But as the season unfolded, his mom said he was replaced by kids he had never seen in school before.

    “One kid is driving an hour to school and an hour from school each day,” Churchill said.

    After Churchill’s son quit the team, she sent a complaint to the Georgia High School Association (GHSA), which oversees extracurricular activities for nearly 500 public and private schools in Georgia, alleging Downs was “recruiting out-of-district players for his football team.”

    After Churchill’s son quit the team, she sent a complaint to the Georgia High School Association or GHSA, alleging that Coach Olten Downs was “recruiting out of district players for his football team.”(Rachel Polansky)

    Churchill is not the only Douglasville parent making these claims.

    Another mother who, fearing backlash, did not want to be identified because her son still plays for Alexander, admitted she is allowing Downs to use her address for one of his recruits, even though the recruit does not live with her.

    Downs, the mother said, “called me on the phone. He said, ‘I have a student that lives in Atlanta, and he wants to come out here to have a better life for himself and to play football and I was wondering if you would be okay allowing this kid to use your address?’

    “I said, that’s fine,” the mother recounted. She said she didn’t know at the time GHSA’s bylaws prohibited such an arrangement. “Even now, I don’t know if I’m gonna get in trouble,” she said. “I don’t know the ramifications.”

    Downs did not respond to Atlanta News First Investigates’ emails. When asked directly about the allegations during halftime at Alexander High football game, Downs did not respond and ran off the field.

    When Atlanta News First Investigates tried to get Coach Downs' side of the allegations, he ran...
    When Atlanta News First Investigates tried to get Coach Downs’ side of the allegations, he ran away.(WANF)

    While Downs did not speak, another parent recorded a call between her and one of Downs’ assistant coaches. That call was shared with Atlanta News First Investigates.

    During the call, the assistant coach asked if she’d provide her address for an incoming recruit to use.

    “He needs to have the address; he can live with me. I have no problem with that but, if he has an address, he’ll be able to go to that school; he’ll be able to go to Alexander,” the coach said.

    When the parent appeared to hesitate, the assistant coach added this: “I’m the type of person like you scratch my back, I scratch your back.” The mother who recorded the call took that to mean her son would be given more playing time.

    “I don’t want any of the kids to get in trouble,” the mother said. “I just want it [recruiting] to stop happening.”

    Recruiting or undue influence

    The GHSA defines recruiting or undue influence as “the use of influence by any person connected directly or indirectly with a GHSA school to induce a student of any age to transfer from one school to another … for athletic or literary competition purposes.”

    GHSA also has the ability to impose penalties including fines, probations, suspensions or forfeiture of games. That’s what happened in 2020 when south Georgia’s longtime football powerhouse, Valdosta High School, was hit with $7500 in fines for recruiting violations. Five of their players were deemed ineligible, they were made to forfeit season wins, and banned from playoffs.

    Atlanta News First Investigates uncovered GHSA investigated 93 claims of recruiting or undue influence over the last three years. Only 23 of them resulted in disciplinary action.

    Atlanta News First Investigates uncovered that GHSA investigated 93 claims of recruiting or...
    Atlanta News First Investigates uncovered that GHSA investigated 93 claims of recruiting or undue influence over the last three years. Only 23 of them resulted in disciplinary action.
    This handwritten list was provided by GHSA. (Rachel Polansky)

    While accusations are common, GHSA Executive Director Robin Hines said his staff rarely has enough evidence to punish programs.

    “You can’t really move forward if it’s not going to pass legal muster,” Hines said. “It’s a shame you have to look through that lens but if you can’t support it in court, then you probably don’t need to be moving forward.”

    Atlanta News First Investigates also learned 13 employees make up GHSA’s office. Only one of them is responsible for investigating misconduct.

    Nonetheless, Hines said his office is properly staffed. “Ninety-nine out of 100 times, it’s [complaints or allegations] usually by disgruntled members of the community that send those things. Some of them may turn out to be true but that’s few and far between.”

    Hines also said when allegations are deemed credible, GHSA will send a “letter of inquiry” to the district and ask the school to conduct its own internal investigation.

    When Atlanta News First Investigates asked if such an inquiry had been sent to Alexander High School, GHSA said it does “not comment on on going investigations.”

    “I’ve complained,” Churchill said. “Other moms have complained. Again, nothing has been done.”

    With one month left in the season, Churchill believes tactics like recruiting have taken the game out of athletes’ hands.

    “It’s just a mess and it needs to stop,” Churchill said.

    Local school system responds

    Atlanta News First Investigates has requested additional complaints regarding Downs since February 2021 from the Douglas County School System. The system said the public records would cost $3,360. We reduced the scope, and the price tag still remains more than $3,000. Atlanta News First is continuing to follow up on that public records request.

    Meanwhile, Atlanta News First Investigates also requested an interview with Trent North, the Douglas County School System superintendent. System spokesperson Portia Lake sent this statement:

    More on this investigation

    Copyright 2022 WANF. All rights reserved.

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  • ‘It hurts. It itches. It’s painful’: Woman loses eye after being tased by deputies

    ‘It hurts. It itches. It’s painful’: Woman loses eye after being tased by deputies

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    BUTTS COUNTY, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – A woman being held in a middle Georgia jail is now blind in her right eye after being tased. The deputy responsible for it, isn’t facing criminal charges, because police allege Ashanti Walls lunged at them.

    Walls’ attorney, however, is arguing his client’s mental health medication was withheld and then was punished for having a psychotic episode.

    The case represents the myriad challenges law enforcement personnel face when dealing with the mentally ill in Georgia’s prisons.

    The incident happened on Sept. 10, 2021; Walls had been in the Butts County jail for five days already. She had also been tased twice before, according to jail records. Incident reports and Walls’ medical file revealed jail staff described aggression, delusions and yelling. Staff also said Walls urinated on herself and defecated in her cell.

    Walls, 58, has been diagnosed as bipolar schizophrenic, according to her medical records, but despite the incidents while she was in the Butts County jail, she was not offered medication over those five days. In fact, her medical file shows she only received medication for her mental illness after the loss of her eye.

    The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) investigated the incident and interviewed the sergeant who tased Walls in the eye; Atlanta News First Investigates obtained the video of the interview.

    The third tasing happened as jail staff were entering Walls’ cell to serve a meal. In the video interview, the sergeant said Walls was in a “crouched down” position when she entered Walls’ cell and “I couldn’t see her.”

    “As soon as the door popped … [Walls] just forcefully pushed it open,” the sergeant said.

    The sergeant told state investigators her body camera malfunctioned, so it did not record the moments leading up to the incident or the tasing itself, only the scene after. Jail surveillance obtained by Atlanta News First investigates only shows one angle and has no audio.

    The sergeant said she “already had my taser out, prepared … based on [Walls’ history].

    “Something was wrong, mentally,” the segreant said.

    On Sept. 12, 2021, according to records, a Grady Memorial Hospital doctor requested Walls take Zyprexa once a day, among other medications. Zyprexa is the brand name for Olanzapine, used to treat mental health disorders.

    “Without the medication, [being] confined in a space only worsens the conditions,” said Aaron Durden, Walls’ attorney.

    According to Butts County Sheriff’s office policy, after someone is arrested and arrives at the jail, inmates should be classified “to enhance safety and humane treatment,” using “behavioral patterns … and any special needs.” The classification, which is a measure to minimize risks, is done when staff complete an objective classification form.

    However, when Atlanta News First Investigates asked for records to determine if jail staff completed that process for Walls, the agency said there were no records.

    “What’s disturbing is why have a policy if you’re not going to follow it,” Durden said.

    Instead of following and implementing protocols for responding to inmates with symptoms associated with psychotic episodes, Durden said the mentally ill are met with the punishment of a prong. “So, it seems as if protocol was walk in [and] be ready to tase her, let’s just go with that,” he said.

    The GBI asked about the type of force used as well.

    “What would be a circumstance you would use pepper spray instead of a taser,” the GBI asked the sergeant in the interview.

    “I’m not really sure,” the sergeant said. “In my opinion, I don’t think pepper spray would have been successful due to her being so violent already and in an altered mental state.”

    “I was a mess … a nervous wreck,” the sergeant said. “I would never mean to do that to anyone. It really hit me hard.”

    Walls feels differently. “It was point and shoot,” she said. “It hurts. It itches. It’s painful. There’s no eyeball there at all.”

    According to her medical records, Walls underwent an emergency surgery called enucleation, the removal of the eye globe.

    “When I cry, it burns,” Walls said. “And it’s just very uncomfortable so I try not to cry.”

    Jonathan Adams, who serves as district attorney for the Towaliga Judicial Circuit, is not filing criminal changes against the sergeant.

    “After careful review of the case I believe the Butts County Sheriff’s Office acted lawfully under the applicable statues,” Adams, whose circuit includes Butts, Lamar and Monroe counties, wrote in a letter.

    Adams’ decision came after the GBI conducted its investigation to determine criminal wrongdoing.

    Atlanta News First has been attempting to contact the Butts County Sheriff’s Office for comment on this incident for several months, to no avail. However, after this story first aired during our 4 p.m. newscast on Oct. 4, a spokesperson for the office contacted Atlanta News First and apologized for the delay. The spokesperson also confirmed Butts County Sheriff Gary Long is now available for an interview.

    At the core, experts argue types of use of force is all about training.

    “When I do my training courses, I ask what’s the best way to prevent tragedies. I write on the blackboard or PowerPoint, I.T.T.S.,” said Dr. Laurence Miller, a nationally recognized clinical and forensic psychologist. “That stands for ‘It’s the training, stupid.’ “People do what they’re trained to do.”

    Miller is also a use-of-force expert, and said law enforcement personnel – particularly those assigned to jails – should have more training on force without a weapon.

    “You can have several personnel, there or four or five personnel who can physically but safely, restrain an inmate,” he said.

    However, he maintains the best line of defense is evaluation and treatment. “If this lady had been having her psychotic symptoms controlled in a medical way, she probably wouldn’t have been in that situation to have gotten out of control, to have been in that fearful anger state to begin with,” Miller said.

    Miller noted even when medication is offered, staff cannot force inmates to take it in most cases.

    In June 2022, the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council released its state study, reporting on identifying predictors of mental illness in Georgia’s county jails. The study found mentally ill people are represented in county jails at twice the rate they are in the general population.

    Additionally, the average stay for mentally ill is roughly double the average stay of those without mental illness.

    If there’s something you would like Atlanta News First Investigates to dig into, fill out this submission form.

    Copyright 2022 WANF. All rights reserved.

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