On June 3, 2026, Deputy Christopher Page of the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office responded to a domestic physical assault report at a shared residence on Millstone Mountain Road in Ozone involving a 70-year-old resident and 52-year-old cohabitant William John Sears.

While en route, Deputy Page spotted Sears fleeing the scene on a black motorcycle and initiated a high-speed pursuit after Sears ignored hand signals to stop and accelerated away. Sears drove recklessly, exceeding 85 miles per hour and crossing double yellow lines, before finally stopping at Susie’s Market on Highway 70 East, where he was taken into custody at gunpoint by Deputy Page and Deputy Nathan Lewis. A subsequent search of Sears revealed a throwing knife and a black .357 revolver.

After being read his Miranda rights, Sears admitted to shoving the victim during a verbal dispute over Sears’ girlfriend, while also making allegations regarding the victim’s past behavior. However, the victim’s phone statement indicated the physical altercation began after Sears flipped over a chair and shoved him multiple times during an argument over property labor.

Based on the investigation and Sears’ own admission, Sears was booked into the Cumberland County Jail and charged with domestic assault, evading arrest, and reckless driving.