Concert promoter clearedAlleged death threat claims dismissed
by Andy Phelan
andy@dekalbchamp.com
Jason Lary |
A county magistrate judge declined April 24 a request by the mayor of Lithonia to arrest a popular concert promoter.
Mayor Joyce McKibben’s request to have Jason Lary arrested was based on a conversation she said she had with state Sen. Ronald Ramsey in January.
Both McKibben and her attorney Melvin “Action” Johnson said Ramsey told them Lary threatened to kill the mayor.
On April 24, Ramsey testified before Judge Glen Galbaugh that he did have a conversation with McKibben concerning comments made to him by Lary but insisted it was not a death threat.
Ramsey did however say that Lary announced he would “run [McKibben] into the ground” in a profanity-laced tirade.
Galbaugh told McKibben her request would be denied for several reasons, but mostly importantly because of Ramsey’s testimony.
The alleged threats were based on a dispute between McKibben and Lary over the concert series contract. McKibben accused Larry of not honoring the terms, while Lary said the mayor has prevented him from getting business license.
Lary, who runs Jason Lary Presents, which has put on the summer concert series in Lithonia since 2004, felt vindicated after the hearing.
“She has crushed my business into the ground,” said Lary. “I didn’t say anything [to Ramsey]. She’s done more damage to me in four months than anyone could do in two decades.”
The dispute, which in many ways was the beginning of the recent unrest in Lithonia, is now settled.
McKibben, who has been locked in a power struggle with city council over the firing and subsequent rehiring of Police Chief Willie Rosser, said she is trying to move on.
“I was very disappointed in Ron Ramsey changing his story,” said McKibben. “I once trusted him as a man of integrity. I know what he told me.”
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