Crime & Safety

UPDATE: Manhunt Underway For Fugitive Who Escaped Police Capture

Several agencies are looking for Billy Owens, 36, who fled from U.S. Marshals agents when they were trying to arrest him in Woodstock.

A manhunt is underway for a fugitive who escaped from U.S. Marshals agents who were attempting to serve arrest warrants. 

Agents with the U.S. Marshals Service just after 3 p.m. Tuesday were attempting to serve arrest warrants at a home off Arnold Mill Road in unincorporated Woodstock when the suspect, 36-year-old Billy Lee Owens, got into a vehicle and fled the scene, said Gavin Duffy, supervisory inspector with the U.S. Marshals Service's Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force. 

"Owens has an extensive criminal history with several convictions for violent crimes and narcotics," Duffy said late Tuesday evening in a press release.

Owen is wanted on variety of "violent crimes" throughout the metro Atlanta area, including burglary and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, Duffy added.

The suspect has active arrest warrants from Fayette, Meriwether and Pike counties, as well as new charges in Cherokee County stemming from his alleged use of a stolen van to escape lawful arrest in Woodstock, Gavin added.

WSBTV is reporting gunshots erupted at the scene where the altercation took place, but Duffy declined to comment on whether those allegations were true. 

Duffy said agents were able to locate the vehicle the suspect got away in, but Owens remains at large. No one was seriously hurt in the incident, but Duffy added other suspects who were with Owen at the time of incident were arrested. 

Duffy said he did not have those suspects' information, including how many were with Owens or what charges they were wanted on.

Owens is a white man who stands 6'1 feet tall, weighs around 220 pounds and has tattoos on arms, his right hand, chest and back. According to State Board of Pardons and Parole records, he gained parole on Feb. 24 after serving time on a kidnapping charge. 

Records also show him living at an address on S.R. 85 in the small Coweta County town of Senoia. 

Several agencies are assisting in the search, which is in the vicinity of Arnold Mill Road and North Arnold Mill Road. Owens is considered armed and extremely dangerous. 

Crime Stoppers of Greater Atlanta is offering up to $4,000 for any information that leads to the arrest of Owens. Tips can be sent to 404-577-TIPS (8477). 


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