Escapee sought by U.S. Marshals Service arrested in Athens

Johnny Cue Holiday

By Joe Johnson

An escapee who was wanted by the U.S. Marshals Service was arrested last week when he was located hiding out at a northside Athens residence by tracking down his cellphone.

On the afternoon of September 16, the Athens-Clarke County Department received a BOLO for 33-year-old Johnny Cue Holiday, who was wanted by federal marshals for escape and various warrants held by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office in connection with a vehicle chase where he was able to elude deputies.

Officers went to the area of Sayemore Drive where Holiday’s cellphone had been pinged and when they spoke with a resident and showed her a photo of Holiday, she pointed out a duplex that he’d been seen entering, police said.

The photo was from a surveillance camera at the Golden Pantry located at West Broad Street and Milledge Avenue that recorded footage of Holiday exiting a stolen car at that intersection.

While an officer talked with an elderly man there, a person fitting the description of Holiday’s image in the photo was seen inside the residence and was subsequently detained, according to police.

It turned out not to be the escapee, but a man who was with Holiday in the Golden Pantry photo.

However, officers did locate him in the other residence in that duplex, hiding behind a bed and holding a knife to his neck, bleeding from where he’d been cut, according to police.

Holiday failed to comply with commands to drop the knife, police said, at which time officers tased him and took him into custody.

A black BB gun was recovered from the floor where he had been lying.

The police report of Holiday’s capture indicates that he was homeless, but the county jail’s website lists his home address as being on Nowhere Road in Athens.

A Magistrate Court judge judge denied him bail at a hearing, and on Tuesday Holiday continued to be detained at the county jail. The U.S. Marshals Service and Jackson County Sheriff’s Office have both placed holds on his release from custody.