An Atlanta man who reportedly skipped an arraignment on a November 2008 drug arrest, had the misfortune to walk into the Monroe County General Court clerk's office while a Madisonville police officer was there.

Antwon Longshore, 36, Greenwood Avenue, Atlanta, was arrested on Nov. 8 last year after Monroe County Sheriff's Deputy B.J. Johnson saw him almost cause a transfer truck to wreck on Interstate 75.

After stopping Longshore, Johnson found a small orange bag in his vehicle containing a hard substance believed to be crystal meth. Johnson also found a glass pipe and scales in the car along with learning he was driving on a suspended license.

Longshore was charged with possession of crystal meth, possession of drug paraphernalia and driving on a suspended license, but those charges were initially nollied when it was found Johnson had not sworn to the warrants.

Nollied is a legal term meaning a case has been dismissed but can be brought back at a later date. Longshore's charges were brought back at the end of January, with Johnson's signature, and he was put back in the court system.

But Longshore missed his arraignment hearing and he had failure to appear added to his list of charges. Longshore was apparently unaware of this and was surprised when he was told he had the new charge.

Madisonville Police Officer Chris Kimsey was at the clerk's office when Longshore arrived and checked with the Sheriff's Office to see if Longshore had a warrant out for his arrest.
He did, but Longshore had already left the building and jumped into his car by the time Kimsey received word the warrant had been filed.

But Kimsey caught him not too far away at the corner of College and Walnut streets in front of the Cora Veal Senior Center. While placing Longshore under arrest, the sheriff's K-9 unit alerted on the car and officers found a smoking pipe inside.

Longshore, on top of the previous charges, was charged additionally with resisting arrest, possession of drug paraphernalia and driving on a suspended license.

michael.thomason@advocateanddemocrat.com | 442-4575