Georgia cop arrested in connection with death of 16-year-old girl

A Georgia police officer was arrested Monday on felony charges in connection with the disappearance and murder of 16-year-old Susana Morales, authorities said.

Miles Bryant, a 22-year-old police officer from Doraville, Georgia, was arrested on February 13 on preliminary charges of misrepresenting a crime and concealing the death of another in connection with the death by Morales, according to CW69 in Atlanta. Doraville is a suburb of Atlanta adjoining Gwinnett County.

Morales has been missing since July 26, 2022. The Gwinnett County Police Department said Morales texted her mother at 9:40 p.m. that she was going home, but never returned. Gwinnett Police said in a news release that a search for the teenager turned up no leads.

On February 6, shortly after 6:30 p.m., a passerby notified Gwinnett police that he had seen what he believed to be human remains in the woods, police said. Detectives responded to the scene and police identified the remains found as those of Morales.

Police did not say how the investigation led them to Bryant. In a press release, police said they are still investigating the manner and cause of Morales’ death.

In a statement on its Facebook page, the City of Doraville said it was notified by the Gwinnett County Police Department that a former police officer was being served with a felony warrant. Bryant was fired after the city of Doraville was notified of the alleged charges, a city official said.

“The City of Doraville and its police department are cooperating fully with the Gwinnett Police Department in its investigation of Mr. Bryant,” officials said in the statement. reported CW69 in Atlanta.

Bryant is currently being held in the Gwinnett County Detention Center on $1,300 bail for misrepresentation of a felony, according to Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Department records. Bryant gave an address in Norcross, Georgia, as his residence, according to online records.

A request for additional information from the Gwinnett County Police Department about Bryant’s arrest was not returned prior to publication.