The workaround is simple, if not very obvious.
1) When the screen goes blank and becomes seeming unresponsive, press and hold the hang-up button for about a minute (or until you see the screen flash.)
2) Release the hang-up button.
3) Press-and-release the home button.
4) You should now be back at your android desktop.
After you do this, the problem should not re-occur, or at least it has not reoccurred for me.*
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