Nearby in Dekalb County: Investigators Search Home of CEO Burrell Ellis

DeKalb County investigators searched the home and office of county CEO Burrell Ellis on Monday morning.

From a story in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution:

Three unmarked police cars were parked outside Ellis’s home in the Southland subdivision, Channel 2 said.

The search comes on the same day as Ellis testified before a special grand jury investigating county watershed operations.

Ellis appeared before local media shortly before 1 p.m. and said he's unaware of any wrongdoing by him or those within his office related to the department's bidding. He also said he hasn't had any inappropriate contact with county vendors that do business with the department.

"We're just going to continue to cooperate [with the investigation]," Ellis said. "I don't know that I'm a target. … It's a pretty broad warrant they've issued."

He also so he was concerned for his visiting 83-year-old mother, who was the only person at his home when the search started. He and his department have cooperated with District Attorney Robert James' investigation since its beginning, he said.

"I'm not sure why they chose to do it that way, but they did," Ellis said of the morning search.

District 2 Commissioner Jeff Rader, in a brief phone interview, said it was too soon to comment.

"I really can't react to it," he said. "I really don't know any more than you do."

Last spring, Ellis took part in PCIDs panel discussion wth Sandy Springs Mayor Eva Galambos and Dunwoody Mayor Mike Davis on how the success of Dekalb County benefits both cities.

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