10/07/2010

FLEEING SUSPECT APPREHENDED
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Two people are facing various felony charges after failing to stop at a vehicle checkpoint Tuesday night in Howard County.  Sheriff's Investigator Bryan McJunkins said Deputies Joey Davis and Jade Hughes were conducting the checkpoint near Wakefield Road and Mission Drive after receiving several complaints from citizens in that area. During the process, a Honda Accord failed to stop for deputies who began a vehicle pursuit along Mission Drive with speeds exceeding 100 miles per hour.  The pursuit continued a short distance onto Highway 355 before the driver pulled in to a private farming drive and fled on foot.  A passenger, identified as 17 year old Raven Bell of Nashville, remained in the car and was arrested at the scene.  While searching the vehicle, deputies say they found a bag of suspected Marijuana inside the car's center console.  As deputies continued to search the car, reports said they also found a small bag of suspected Methamphetamine on the driver's side floorboard along with identification belonging to 21 year old Dustyn Dowdle of Delight.  
 
By mid day Wednesday, authorities began receiving calls of a white male who was barefoot, walking along Highway 355.  Deputies responded to the area but were unsuccessful in locating Dowdle. Deputies gave a description of the person they were looking for to citizens in the area..and later Wednesday afternoon, Dowdle was spotted at the County Line Fire Department asking to use the telephone and looking for a ride.  Several citizens notified the Sheriff's Department and began transporting Dowdle in their vehicle. He was taken into custody when Deputy Todd Tallant stopped the vehicle near the Mission Drive and Highway 355 intersection.  Dowdle is facing felony possession charges for Methamphetamine and Marijuana along with a count of Possessing Drug Paraphernalia and a misdemeanor charge of Fleeing.  Bell is charged as an adult with a felony count of possessing Methamphetamine and a misdemeanor charge of possessing Marijuana.

Sheriff Butch Morris