STATE BRIEFS

Athens man dies after jail release

Athens —- An Athens man didn’t get to enjoy freedom for long. Police say 49-year-old Walter Lee Elam Jr. was found dead early Thursday morning on a sidewalk near downtown just a few hours after he was released from the Clarke County Jail.

Police say he had a medical condition and had two bottles of prescription medicine with him. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation was scheduled to perform an autopsy late Thursday. Elam had been in jail since Sept. 16 for violating probation. Police said he had previously been convicted of battery and disorderly conduct charges. He was released from jail at 12:30 a.m. and found about four hours later by two men on their way to work.

Marijuana hunters’ helicopter fired on

Griffin —- Authorities say a Spalding County Sheriffs Office helicopter searching for marijuana was hit by gunfire but sustained no structural damage and landed safely. Sheriff Dee Stewart said, “The only thing I can tell you right now is that they were out looking for illegal plants and someone shot them down.”

Special Agent Brian Smith, the pilot, along with another agent, were in the helicopter when it was hit above property across the line in Pike County.

Man, 27, accused in murder, theft

Waycross —- A 27-year-old Waycross man is accused of killing an acquaintance and stealing his credit cards.

Authorities say John Darwin Swain Jr. is charged with malice murder, financial card fraud, theft by taking and probation violation.

Ware County deputies were called to the home of 61-year-old Charlie Calaway Johnson on Saturday after a neighbor found him. Johnson had a head injury.

Police say credit cards stolen

Birmingham —- A Woodstock man has been indicted on multiple counts of aggravated identity theft and access device fraud.

U.S. Attorney Alice Martin in Birmingham announced the charges against 54-year-old Joseph Dewitt Crocker of Woodstock on Wednesday.

Federal authorities allege Crocker made fraudulent purchases with stolen credit cards on Aug. 25 and Aug. 26 at a business in suburban Birmingham.