(Monday 1:30 p.m. update) – Authorities believe a man who jumped into the Grand River over the weekend was spotted in Chillicothe.
The Livingston County Sheriff’s Office said a fugitive investigation is underway for Brian Vincent Bowman, 41 of Brookfield. Sheriff Steve Cox said Bowman is wanted in Livingston County on a felony arrest warrant from January 2016 for alleged felony resisting arrest. Bowman is also the same person who allegedly fled from a Livingston County deputy on April 29 and jumped off the 36 river bridge into the Grand River.
Currently, investigators with the sheriff’s office, Chillicothe Police Department and the Missouri State Highway Patrol are searching for Bowman who is being considered a dangerous person.
“Investigation has since revealed a credible sighting of Mr. Bowman in Chillicothe. Officers from all 3 agencies surrounded a residence in Chillicothe and ultimately searched the home but did not locate Bowman,” Cox said. “Do not approach Bowman but instead call your nearest law enforcement agency if you have information or 911.”
Cox said they suspect Bowman may be hiding in the Chillicothe/Brookfield area and may also try presenting himself as a Hispanic man.
“Mr. Bowman is considered a dangerous person and anyone who assists Mr. Bowman may face serious felony charge(s),” Cox said.
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(Monday 10 a.m. update) – Little new information has been found after a man jumped into the Grand River near Chillicothe over the weekend in an attempt to escape from a deputy’s pursuit.
According to the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office additional search of the area has not revealed any additional evidence or sightings. The Grand River is now ¾ bank full and it may be some time before any additional water search can take place.
Sheriff Steve Cox said the Missouri State Highway Patrol officer is not available for the underwater sonar use on the Grand River as he has been sent to southwest Missouri to assist with multiple water rescues there.
The female driver of the vehicle on April 29 was arrested at the scene and has since been charged in Livingston County Associate Circuit Court. Arrested was Wanita J. Bowman, 40, Chillicothe, for alleged Possession of Methamphetamine and Resisting/Interfering with Arrest for a Felony. Ms. Bowman remains in the Daviess Dekalb County Regional Jail in lieu of $20,000 bond.
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(Sunday) – A suspect being pursued by a sheriff’s deputy jumped into the Grand River near Chillicothe Saturday.
Livingston County Sheriff Steve Cox said the deputy tried to stop a vehicle on U.S. Highway 36 at about 3:10 p.m. Saturday. The deputy believed a man in the vehicle was wanted on warrants.
Cox said the vehicle stopped once near 65 Highway and the suspect got out of the vehicle. The deputy said the man refused to comply with his requests, and deployed a taser, with no noticeable reaction from the suspect.
Cox says the figitive got back in the vehicle, which continued westbound to the Grand River Bridge.
“The fugitive exited the car, put on a back pack, and jumped off the bridge into the river,” Cox said.
Despite search efforts by the sheriff’s office, Chillicothe Police, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Chillicothe Department of Emergency Services, and the Missouri Dept. of Conservation, the suspect had not been found by 6:30 p.m. Saturday. Cox says they found no evidence the man made it out of the water.
The sheriff said the river was low, an estimated eight feet in depth where the suspect jumped in. He says the water was cold. The temperature was in the 40s with strong winds at the time, he said.
Cox says the driver of the car was arrested for investigation of possession of meth, resisting arrest and hindering prosecution.
In a news release, Sheriff Cox said he would update the media in a follow-up news release on Monday.