Athens man knocked out and robbed while taking walk

By Joe Johnson

A 23-year-old Athens man reportedly was taking a walk along West Broad Street Monday evening when someone knocked him unconscious and stole his wallet.

Stephen Sims told police that he became winded during his walk and so he took a rest on steps at the old Rutland Academy building, where a man approached and punched the side of his head, causing him to briefly lose consciousness.

He realized that when he came to realized that he’d been robbed of his wallet, at which time he walked several blocks to the Dollar General store where he called 911.

The victim told police that he had seen the suspect once before, in the area of Rocksprings Court, and that he would be able to identify him in a lineup.

An EMS crew checked out the man’s bleeding ear injury, police said, but he declined treatment.