By Joe Johnson
An Athens man was arrested last weekend for strangling his girlfriend during a dispute at the home they shared on Mark Twain Circle.
Jeffery Lamar Johnson, 53, was taken into custody Saturday morning after the victim’s two young grandsons went to her rescue and pulled him off of her during an assault, according to an Athens-Clarke County Police Department report.
Johnson reportedly was intoxicated at the time, and he grabbed the woman’s neck from behind as she was preparing to leave with her four grandkids, who ranged in age from 2 to 16.
The police report indicates that the victim had red marks on her neck and said she had trouble breathing while being strangled by Johnson.
The altercation had its roots in the woman’s displeasure with Johnson from the night before when he was drinking and possibly snorting cocaine in a restaurant restroom, according to the police report.
The woman had initially called police on Saturday morning to ask officers if they could remove Johnson from her apartment, and after explaining the eviction process to her the officers left, only to return less than an hour later to investigate the physical altercation.
The police officers arrested Johnson for aggravated assault and cruelty to children, because the violence occurred in the presence of the grandchildren.
Anyone who is in an abusive relationship can seek advice and support services by calling Project Safe's 24-hour hotline at (706) 543-3331, or by visiting http://www.project-safe.org
Once again, the police are useless. It’s a good thing she wasn’t alone with the youngest grandkids. She wouldn’t be alive…even after trying to get help BEFORE this happened.
Accolades to the two young heroes. Growing up in the presence of this thug would have been trouble. Let's hope they can stay on the right side of this life.
Better living thru drugs and alcohol.
And now Mr Johnson is going to be homeless and doing all the good things the homeless do for our community.