Athens Banner-Herald

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

An Athens man who hid in an attic to avoid officers with a warrant for his arrest literally fell into their arms when the ceiling collapsed early Monday morning, Athens-Clarke police said.

Officers went to a home in the 100 block of Martin Court about 1:40 a.m. on information that 41-year-old James Vernard Smith was there, police said. A woman who answered the door at first denied Smith was there, but said he was in the attic after a witness reported seeing him smoking a cigarette on the back porch just before officers arrived.

The officers climbed up into the attic to get Smith, but he kept scuttling away until he was cornered, then broke out a roof vent to escape, according to police.

An officer subdued Smith by pepper-spraying him, and he was crawling toward the officers when the plasterboard below him gave way, and he fell partially through the ceiling. Officers helped lower Smith the ground and arrested him, police said.

Smith was charged with burglary, obstruction of a law enforcement officer, failure to appear in court, several motor vehicle violations and two counts of violating probation.