Man charged with brandishing gun in racial incident with city worker in downtown Athens

James Curtis Williams

By Joe Johnson

James Williams, 38, of Elberton was arrested last week for allegedly brandishing a gun during an encounter with an city employee with racial overtones.

According to police, a 40-year-old sanitation worker was collecting trash on College Avenue the evening of March 7 when he informed the driver of a van that she was in a no parking zone.

Williams, a white passenger in the van, allegedly displayed a handgun and asked the black worker what he was going to do about it, calling him a racially derogatory name.

When officers located the van they found a 9mm pistol and an AR-15 assault rifle.

Williams was arrested for simple assault and later released upon posting $1,500 bail.

Police seized both weapons so that they could be placed into evidence.