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Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey is receiving criticismfor waiting until data and public pressure are overwhelming before implementing measures to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. 16A

Governor criticized forresponse to pandemic

Arizona Department of Public Safety arrests a mansuspected of throwing paint on a memorial to Con-federate troops at the state Capitol on Friday. 3A

Arrest in defacement

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He did nothing wrong.When he learned of the girl’s birth, Don-

ald Williams took a paternity test that con-fi�rmed he was the father. He said he wantedto raise her.

But it would not be that simple.The baby was in Arizona’s child-welfare

system, born substance-exposed to a moth-er who had chronic drug problems. He lived600 miles away, in Sacramento, California;he had little money; and the Arizona Depart-ment of Child Safety did little to help himbond with his child.

After 31⁄�2 years of missed visits, reportsand evaluations, the Juvenile Court in Mar-icopa County severed his parental rights. Itwas the second time DCS had moved to doso; the fi�rst attempt failed because, the judgesaid, “You shouldn’t lose your child becauseyou are poor.”

But being poor complicated things.After the ruling that said he was no longer

the little girl’s dad, he vowed to keep fi�ght-ing.

‘ALL I KNOW IS I AM THE FATHER’

The state took a child he didn’t know he had. He spent 5 years getting her back

Donald Williams is shown with his daughter, Melody, at church, after picking her up from her foster mother inArizona and then moving her to California. Williams had fought his case with the Arizona Department of ChildSafety, saying, “I'm going to fi�ght and get her.” PHOTOS BY NICK OZA/THE REPUBLIC

Jacque Watley talks about her journey as afoster parent to Melody Williams for thefi�ve years the case was in the courts.

Mary Jo Pitzl Arizona Republic

USA TODAY NETWORK

See FATHER, Page 6A

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Maricopa County took the lead insending a clear message to every resi-dent in the county: Wear a mask no mat-ter what city, town or unincorporatedarea you live in.

The County Board of Supervisors,which voted unanimously late Friday,said it acted because the number of re-ported COVID-19 cases continues to

climb. The supervisors and other local lead-

ers across Arizona over the past weekdebated the practical issues of enforce-ment, the philosophical issues of indi-vidual liberty and personal responsibil-ity and the reality that more people are

County now requires masksPaulina PinedaArizona Republic | USA TODAY NETWORK

See MASKS, Page 22A

Supervisors vote to mandate face coverings to stop growing spread of COVID-19

7-day average ofnew COVID-19 cases

announced in Arizona

Data as of June 20, 2020

SOURCE: ARIZONA DEPARTMENT

OF HEALTH SERVICES

*Note: Arizona's official tally likely does not

capture all cases of COVID-19 in the state.

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USA TODAY NETWORK

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