Woman asks to smoke crack before going to jail

By Joel Provano

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Police say an Athens woman wanted more than her Miranda rights before being taken to jail -- a few hits on her crack pipe.

Athens-Clarke County Sheriff Essie Mae Jones, arrested in stabbing of Johnny Jones.

More Atlanta area news »

• Father: Aimee Copeland speaks
• Georgians reflect on Memorial Day
• Johns Creek woman missing
• Man drowns in Lake Allatoona

Athens-Clarke County police spokeswoman Hilda Sorrow said officers responded Wednesday afternoon to a residence on Kennedy Circle in Athens, where they found several people pushing and shoving each other.

One man involved in the fracas had a stab wound in the abdomen.

Officers determined that Essie Mae Jones and the Johnny Michael Jones "had some words, and Essie stabbed Johnny."

Johnny Jones was transported to Athens Regional Medical Center, and Essie Mae Jones, 48, was arrested and charged with aggravated assault.

But before she was taken into custody, Essie Mae told the arresting officer "that I should at least let her smoke her pipe before I take her to jail, since they won't let her" smoke it there, the Athens Banner-Herald reported, citing the police incident report.

The officer noted that there was a crack pipe near Jones' feet and that everyone involved in the incident appeared to be intoxicated, according to the report. Her request was denied and she was taken to jail.

Jones was also charged with cruelty to children because the stabbing was witnessed by two young children, police said.