A chaotic Thursday evening that began with a failed traffic stop and spiraled into a multi-vehicle pursuit and marshland manhunt has ended with a 33-year-old man behind bars.
Tomal Bowe is currently in custody following a massive law enforcement mobilization that spanned from I-95 to US 1. The St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office (SJSO) confirmed late Thursday night that Bowe faces a litany of serious charges, including Grand Theft Auto and Felony Fleeing and Eluding.
The incident kicked off earlier in the evening near Mile Marker 323 on I-95. According to investigators, deputies attempted to pull Bowe over, but he refused to stop. The pursuit escalated until deputies executed a PIT maneuver near International Golf Parkway (IGP), forcing the suspect’s vehicle to spin out.
However, the crash did not end the chase. Authorities say Bowe bailed out of the disabled car and managed to commandeer a van. He then sped down IGP toward US 1 at a high rate of speed before abandoning the second vehicle and fleeing on foot into the dense woods and marshland nearby.
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The SJSO quickly established a heavy perimeter near Abbotts Way, warning residents to avoid the area as they hunted for a subject described as “possibly violent.”
For several hours, air units tracked Bowe from the sky, guiding K9 teams and deputies on the ground through the difficult terrain. By 9 p.m., the sheriff’s office announced the suspect had been located and secured.
Bowe is charged with Resisting without Violence and Possession of Marijuana. He was also found to have multiple active warrants out of other counties.
Bowe is currently being held at the county jail. No injuries to deputies or civilians were reported during the pursuit.
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