ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. – A man said his work van was stolen after a police chase that included wrong-way driving and a PIT maneuver, leaving traffic backed up for hours, authorities and the van’s owner told News4JAX.
The St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office said Bowe drove the wrong way during the pursuit and was briefly stopped when officers performed a successful PIT maneuver on his vehicle.
Bowe then ran across traffic, the sheriff’s office said, stole a work van and drove off before running into the woods on foot. The chase caused major delays on county roads for several hours.
Travis Bassa, owner of Bassa Mobile Detailing, said that he was working in a parking lot when Bowe approached and leaned over a vehicle Bassa was detailing to check for keys. Bassa said he initially did not react because Bowe was wearing clothing similar to other workers at the site.
When Bowe didn’t find keys in that vehicle, he moved to Bassa’s work van. Bassa said the keys were in the cup holder. Bowe quickly reversed the van and sped away.
“At that point we were kind of like screaming trying to get him to stop. Didn’t know what was going on,” Bassa said. “He stopped to get out and shut the door but he couldn’t get the doors shut so he just jumped back in so that’s when I knew he’s taking our truck.”
The sheriff’s office shared a photo of the stolen van showing popped tires. Bassa said he has not been able to retrieve the vehicle and was unsure whether there was additional damage.
Bassa said that from now on, his keys will stay in his pocket.
Bowe is charged with felony fleeing and eluding, grand theft auto, resisting without violence, possession of marijuana and multiple out-of-county warrants. He is also a wanted fugitive out of the Bahamas.
Sheriff Robert Hardwick said in a conference on Friday that he had a legal visa and ICE is investigating if he had a criminal history in the Bahamas before the visa was granted.
A judge set the following bond:
- Attempting to elude: felony offense
- Count 1 Bond: $10,000
- Resisting an officer without violence: misdemeanor offense
- Count 2 Bond: $1,000
- Grand theft motor vehicle
- Count 3 Bond: $2,500
- Possession of marijuana under 20 grams
- Count 4 Bond: $500