Jones County’s Sales Ratio woes appear to have created conflict among employees in the tax assessors’ office that hit a tipping point last week, resulting in the arrest of a county tax assessor.
Donna Welch was arrested Oct. 25 and charged with simple battery after another employee reported being elbowed by the coworker.
A report of the incident by Gray Police Lt. Jacob Hunnicutt stated that he was contacted by the coworker to report the battery Oct. 25. The complainant and Welch are both county employees who work in the tax assessors’ office at the Government Center.
The complainant first told the officer about a picture that was posted in the office showing a man cocking a gun with a caption about workplace drama she felt was directed at her. She said she felt threatened. The coworker said she took her concern to the human resources department and was directed to take her concern to the department head. That instruction was not helpful because of the complainant’s previous report to the Board of Commissioners pertaining to the conduct of that department head in reference to the county’s sales ratio issues.
After speaking to the commissioners, the complainant was given a promise of their support by board members. However, it does not appear much has been done to alleviate the pressures she has been facing in the workplace since that assurance.
The arrest report went on to say that, later the same day of the picture incident, the complainant told Hunnicutt that Welch was heard in the office using profanity and speaking in a loud voice. The complainant told the officer she felt unsafe in that workspace.
The battery incident happened, according to the complainant, when Welch walked behind her as she was gathering her things to leave work Oct. 24 and pushed her elbow into her back as she went by.
The elbow incident was witnessed by another employee of the office who was interviewed by Hunnicutt.
The officer said he spoke to Welch and other department employees about the posting of the picture. He said Welch admitted to putting up the picture but denied elbowing the coworker. Hunnicutt said the profanity incident by Welch was also witnessed by an employee with whom he spoke.
The lieutenant said he took the findings of the investigation to Magistrate Judge Lewis Patterson, who issued a warrant for Welch’s arrest for simple battery.
Welch was reported to be back to work Monday, Oct. 28, without any apparent repercussions pertaining to the previous incidents or the arrest.
