Man rams 5 police vehicles
Fugitive leads police on high-speed chase through Murphy
By Gabby Hudson Staff Writer

Wayne Travis Bowman

A high speed chase led three local law enforcement agencies to join forces to capture a wanted Georgia fugitive.

Officers from the North Carolina Highway Patrol, Cherokee County Sheriff's Office and the Murphy Police Department were called to assist in the capture and arrest of Wayne Travis Bowman, 22 of Barton County, Georgia.

On Friday, N.C. State Trooper Chris Wood stopped a white Dodge Neon, containing a male driver and a young 15-year-old female passenger for a traffic violation.

Wood approached the vehicle requesting a drivers license and car registration. Unable to produce one, Bowman told Wood his full name.

Wood returned to his vehicle calling despatch to check on any outstanding warrants. Dispatch informed Wood that Bowman was wanted in the State of Georgia for sexual battery of a minor.

Wood called for back-up, approached Bowman's car with his weapon drawn, telling the driver to place his hands on the steering wheel.

Bowman then put the car in gear and sped away proceeding on NC 60 at speeds of 110 miles per hour, with Wood in pursuit. Bowman then turned right unto US 64 toward Murphy.

Three seperate law enforcement agencies responded to the 110-mile per hour chase. The Neon, in which Bowman fled, is on the left.

The driver approaching the light at McDonald's ran into traffic and swerved into oncoming traffic.

Bowman then encountered Cherokee County Sheriff's officer Todd White and rammed his vehicle and proceed into the McDonald's parking lot, rounding the restaurant.

The driver then rammed State T r o o p e r K.D. Hyde, driving a 2 0 0 7 D o d g e C h a r g e r. B o w m a n then continued on - r a m m i n g M u r p h y P o l i c e Department officer Clint Wooten, driv- ing a 1998 Ford Crown Victoria.

Bowman then turned onto US 19 toward the Hiwassee River Bridge where Wood passed the Neon and positioned himself in front of Bowman. Officer Hyde overtook the car on the left as officer White positioned himself behind the Neon.

In an attempt to slow the vehicle, officers reduced their speed and merged to the right.

Bowman then accelerated to the left once again, ramming Wood's and Hyde's vehicle and spinning the Neon and coming to rest facing west. Bowman was arrested without incident.

Charges filed against Bowman are:

First degree kidnapping, four counts of assault with a deadly weapon, governmental official, injury to personal property, possess weapon of mass destruction, injury of personal property, extradition/fugitive other state, flee/elude arrest w/mv (f), license not in possession, fail to wear seat belt-driver, fail to heed to light or siren, speeding, reckless driving to endanger, fail to stop sign/flash red, resisting officers and carrying a concealed weapon.

Bowman has been extradited to Georgia where bond is set at $250,000. Wood said a request has been made to increase the bond due to the fact that the Neon had been stolen and officers were unaware the car was stolen at the time of the incident.