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South Georgia police officer arrested, accused of choking 16-year-old boy

Baxley police Lt. John Jones was arrested and charged with battery, cruelty to children in the first degree and aggravated assault.
Baxley police Lt. John Jones was arrested and charged with battery, cruelty to children in the first degree and aggravated assault.
By Erin Schilling
July 2, 2019

A South Georgia police officer is in custody after allegedly using what was deemed unnecessary force against a teenager during an arrest, the GBI confirmed.

Baxley police Lt. John Jones was arrested Tuesday and charged with battery, cruelty to children in the first degree and aggravated assault after the June 16 incident.

Jones responded to the report of an assault at a local business and took the 16-year-old into custody, the GBI said in a news release. The teen, whose name was not released, did not comply when the officer tried to get him out of the police car to escort him into the Appling County Jail.

Once the teen was under control and handcuffed, the GBI said Jones hit him multiple times and choked him until he was unconscious.

The GBI was called to investigate June 26.

In other news:

The dramatic incident unfolded Monday around 12:30 p.m. on the 1000 block of Macon Highway.

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Erin Schilling
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