“Baton Bob” is free again. The infamous Midtown street performer posted bond and left jail late Thursday, avoiding a second night behind bars.
Dressed in a short, white tutu, mask and veil, Bob Jamerson, who performs on the street as “Baton Bob,” was arrested Wednesday afternoon following an altercation with two security guards, Atlanta police said. Jamerson remained in the Fulton County jail until late Thursday, when he posted $4,000 bond and was released, records show.
Jamerson, 61, of Atlanta, was allegedly involved in a verbal altercation with security at a Midtown building in the 1100 block of Peachtree Street, according to Sgt. Greg Lyon.
“An off-duty Atlanta Police officer working for Midtown Blue was called and made the arrest,” Lyon said in an emailed statement.
Midtown Blue is an alliance that includes more than 40 off-duty APD officers.
Two security guards told police that Jamerson had been asked to stay off the Colony Place property, according to an incident report obtained by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. When he was asked to leave Wednesday around noon, Jamerson began using obscenities at the guards, the report states.
When an APD sergeant arrived, Jamerson was on the corner of Peachtree and 14th streets blowing a whistle and dancing, according to police.
“While the suspect was blowing his whistle on the corner, I observed numerous vehicles stopping in the middle of the roadway causing traffic,” the report states. “The suspect was dancing and gyrating in a sexual manner on the city sidewalk blocking pedestrian traffic.”
When the sergeant attempted to approach Jamerson, Jamerson allegedly used obscenities again. The sergeant was able to grab one of Jamerson’s hands as Jamerson kicked him, the report states.
“The suspect stated that he would have me out of my uniform after this is over,” the report states.
Jamerson was apologetic and cooperated with officers while being transported to the Fulton County jail, according to police.
“When the suspect arrived at the precinct, he was even more cooperative and continued to apologize,” the report states.
Jamerson was charged with two counts of simple assault and one count of obstruction against the officer, all misdemeanors, Lyon said.
Known for his hard-to-miss costumes and baton-twirling, “Baton Bob” has been a fixture on Midtown streets for several years, but was temporarily on hiatus until May 2012.
“I’m on a humanitarian mission,” Jamerson previously told the AJC. “This is my unconditional gift back to humanity.”
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