Troup Man Arrested Following Chase, Manhunt

TROUP — Two people have been arrested after the Smith County Sheriff’s Department and Troup Police executed a car chase that turned into a manhunt. Taylor Ray Bowles, 28, and Kimberly Ann Hawkins, 30, were arrested. According to KETK, Bowles has felony arrest warrants. Around 5:00 Wednesday, Smith County Sheriff’s department responded to a suspicious vehicle off of highway 64 East near Chapel Hill. Officers say a male and female were walking down the road with a gas can not far from the vehicle. As police arrived Bowles ran away into the woods. Police set up a perimeter attempting to contain him, only to find out he had escaped.

Bowles went on to steal a late 90’s Suburban and led police on a chase. During the chase, he lost control of the vehicle and wrecked at the intersection of CR 15 and FM 2169 in Troup. After the crash he led police on a foot chase into the woods, which is when police called in a DPS helicopter from Dallas. Bowles was discovered in a heavily wooded area after the chopper directed ground units to his location. Bowles racked up additional charges including evading arrest, and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. Kimberly Hawkins was arrested on an outdated vehicle registration sticker.