Union City councilwoman accused of trying to use her office to keep son out of jail

UNION CITY, Ga. — A Union City councilwoman is coming under fire after accusations have surfaced that she tried using her political office to keep her son, who was a shooting suspect, out of jail.

Fulton County jail records show that 34-year-old Vernon Young is accused of shooting and injuring a man last month behind a restaurant on Donald Lee Hollowell Pkwy.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Channel 2′s Michael Seiden reached out to Dr. Christina Hobbs, who also serves as the city’s Mayor Pro Tem, by phone, email and in person to get her side of the accusations being made against her: that she used her office to protect her son who was on the run before turning himself in. She did not return any of those requests.

According to police reports, members of Atlanta police’s fugitive team and Union City police showed up to the family home and spoke with Dr. Hobbs.

When they asked if Young was inside the home, they say she replied by saying, “Do you know who I am?” and “Call the chief, call everybody.”

Channel 2 Action News has filed an open records request with the Atlanta Police Department to obtain a copy of that body camera video, but was denied because of the ongoing investigation.

TRENDING STORIES:

• Saturday was the deadliest day for the COVID-19 pandemic in GA, new numbers show
• Georgia police department warns about fake cash floating around city
• Metro man accused of killing girlfriend had history of threats, violence, court records show

“You gotta abide by the same laws that everybody else abides by,” Union City resident Altariq Rollins said. “If you break the law, you get caught.”

Union City Mayor Vince Williams is showing his support for Dr. Hobbs. He says she is a woman of integrity and the story surrounding her situation has been misconstrued.

[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]

IN OTHER NEWS:

Metro Atlanta hip hop community leaders condemn COVID-19 claims from some celebrities Nicki Minaj is one of the most popular rappers in the world, and a few days ago, she set off a firestorm when she tweeted about the COVID-19 vaccine.

©2021 Cox Media Group