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Joking around leads to jail time
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ATHENS — A 19-year-old man in Athens was arrested after he called attention to himself by joking with a police officer.

The Athens Banner-Herald reports Officer Jerry Johnson was starting a bicycle patrol Thursday when a man called out to him from a swing in a nearby playground, “Hey Johnson, let a young man have a bike.”

Johnson recognized Dontavous Bernard Malcom and knew he had an outstanding arrest warrant. Court records show Malcom last month violated his probation on drug and obstruction charges by not paying fees. As the officer walked Malcom to his patrol car, a pill bottle fell from his pocket and he crushed it with his foot. Police say the bottle contained crack cocaine.

Malcom faces additional charges.

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