Man with machete threatens bus passengers in west Athens

Henry McKinsey Bolton

By Joe Johnson

Police on Monday arrested a suspect who reportedly threatened passengers on an Athens transit bus.

The incident occurred just before 5 p.m. at a bus stop in front of the Salvation Army homeless shelter on Hawthorne Avenue, where 56-year-old

Henry Bolton got into an argument with another passenger who he threatened with a machete. He chased the man and his girlfriend off the bus and down the street.

Police arrested Bolton in the dining area of the shelter where they recovered the weapon.

He wouldn’t identify himself but police were able to learn his name and that he has an address in Lithonia.

Bolton admitted to the incident but did not give a reason for it.

A witness who had been on the bus told police she thought that Bolton had acted in self defense. She explained that the man had made a gesture with his hand that could have been interpreted as a threat to shoot.

Police patted down that man and didn’t find any weapons

Bolton was arrested for aggravated assault and is being held without bail pending a bond hearing.