From the Blount County Sheriff’s Office:

Blount County, Tennessee – Blount County Sheriff James Lee Berrong announced that investigators charged a 24-year-old Lenoir City man with two felony warrants as well as additional charges in connection with last Sunday’s accident that claimed the life of Blount County Deputy Justin Mowery.

Dalton Michael Bowman, 24, of Lenoir City, was charged with the following:

• Evading arrest that resulted in the death of a law enforcement officer (Class A felony)
• Possession of a weapon by a convicted felon (Class C felony)
• Driving on a suspended license, subsequent offense (Misdemeanor)
• Driving without a license (Misdemeanor)
• Simple possession of Methamphetamine (Misdemeanor)

Bowman, a prior convicted felon, was arrested Monday afternoon at a residence in Louisville on a warrant out of Loudon County. He is currently being held without bond at the Loudon County Correctional Facility as he awaits a court hearing on the Loudon County warrant and will be brought to Blount County at a later time to be arraigned on these charges.

Investigators learned that shortly after 5 p.m. Sunday, Deputy Mowery reported to Blount County dispatch that he was attempting to stop a motorcyclist who was driving recklessly in the southbound lane of Miser Station Road at a high rate of speed and refusing to stop. After the Sunday evening crash that took the life of Deputy Mowery, Sheriff’s investigators began their inquiry into locating the motorcyclist who fled. In addition, several individuals came forward and reported to investigators that they witnessed the motorcyclist fleeing at a high rate of speed from the deputy. As the investigation unfolded, investigators learned that a motorcycle was reported stolen out of Loudon County that matched the description of the motorcycle that fled from Deputy Mowery and that was also captured on the in-car camera of another deputy as the motorcycle drove through a field on Lane Drive.

BCSO investigators continued to work with investigators with the Loudon County Sheriff’s Office and the Tennessee Highway Patrol, following up on multiple leads in regard to the stolen motorcycle and suspect information.   Information they gathered on Sunday evening and Monday morning led them to Dalton Michael Bowman as a suspect. During his arrest, Bowman was in possession of a handgun as well as approximately six grams of methamphetamine. The motorcycle being ridden at the time of Deputy Mowery’s death was also recovered at the time of his arrest and confirmed to be reported stolen out of Loudon County.  Bowman later admitted to investigators that he knew that Deputy Mowery was attempting to stop him as he fled.

“I am relieved and thankful that investigators were able to make an arrest and provide some justice to Deputy Mowery’s family,” Sheriff Berrong said. “Our investigators, as well as the investigators from THP and the other agencies who assisted worked relentlessly to solve this case and make an arrest. Many agencies assisted us with the investigation, and these same agencies continue to support us. We could not have done this without the investigatory help from Maryville Police Department, as well as assistance from Alcoa Police Department, Knox County Sheriff’s Office, Knoxville Police Department, Loudon County Sheriff’s Office, and a host of other agencies that have pitched in to help us answer calls and anything else we’ve needed. Thank you just doesn’t seem like enough.”

This is an ongoing investigation and additional charges could be forthcoming.