James Lynn Johnson
ATHENS-Last night, Tuesday, May 19th the Athens Police Department received a call that a woman and child were being assaulted. Officers responded to the call, here is how Athens Police Chief Floyd Johnson Describes events leading up to the arrest of one man:
“Last night the Athens Police Department received a call reporting a woman and a child were on North Houston Street and were victims of assault. When officers responded they located a 21-year-old female and her 2-year-old daughter. Both victims had been severely beaten. The older victim had bruises all over her body. Her eyes were both black and almost swollen shut. Her daughter had multiple bruises on her face and her face was swollen. Both victims were transported to Athens-Limestone Hospital Emergency Room by ambulance. The child was later transferred to Huntsville Hospital by Med Flight.
Officers were told by the victim her boyfriend James Lynn Johnson was at her apartment at Woodridge Apartments on Sunday. He accused the victim of having an affair and then started beating her with his hands, a wrench, screw driver and a necklace. He also cut her and stabbed her with a screw driver. She told officers at one point he forced her to take 3 Xanax. She told officers she didn’t know what all he did to her daughter, but she could hear her child screaming from a separate room. She also told officers the child was forced to stay in a closet.
On Tuesday in the early morning hours Johnson forced both victims to leave Woodridge Apartments and walk with him to North Houston Street. There he forced them to stay in an outside storage shed. According to the victim she was told by Johnson if she left or contacted the police he would kill her daughter. Late last night Johnson left the shed. The victim looked out and saw a house with a light on. She left the shed and went to the house to ask for help. She asked the occupant not to call the police due to Johnson’s threats to kill her daughter. The residence called 911 and they transferred them to the police department.
The child in this case has a possible skull fracture, a broken arm and multiple bruises on her face and body. The mother has multiple bruises all over her body, cuts and puncture marks.
Johnson was arrested last night and charged with Torture Willful Abuse of a Child one count, Domestic Violence by Strangulation, Domestic Violence 2nd degree two counts, Kidnapping 1st degree two counts. Johnson was booked at the Police Department and transferred to the Limestone County Jail.”
