From: Chief P.K. Johnson

Millbrook Police Department

On April 28, 2020, at approximately 1:45 AM, Millbrook police officers attempted to stop a suspicious vehicle that had been observed behind a closed business in the 1100 block of Highway 14. The vehicle, a 2011 Ford Taurus, refused to stop when the officer activated his emergency equipment. The vehicle turned southbound onto I-65, continuing towards Montgomery. The vehicle continued southbound into Montgomery at speeds up to 100 miles per hour. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency were notified of the pursuit. The Montgomery Sheriff’s Office deployed spike strips on I-65, at mile marker 164, in an attempt to end the pursuit. The suspect vehicle was able to avoid the spike strips, continuing southbound on I-65 at a high rate of speed. Pursuing officers observed that the suspect vehicle began to smoke heavily and was losing fluids. The pursuit terminated on I-65, near mile marker 153.

The vehicles occupants were taken into custody without incident. The driver and passenger, later identified as Brittany A. Bowlen, a 34 year old Montgomery resident, and Stanley J. Wilson, a 31 year old Montgomery resident, were placed under arrest, each being charged with Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance, Unlawful Possession of Marijuana 2^nd Degree, Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Tampering with Evidence. In addition Bowlen was also charged with Attempting to Elude Law Enforcement, while Wilson was charged with Failure to Possess an Ex-Felon Card. Both individuals were placed in the Elmore County Jail, where they remain under no bond until warrants of arrest are obtained and served.

” We are extremely fortunate that no one was hurt during this ordeal. These individuals had no regard for the safety of anyone on the roadway this morning, to include themselves. Fortunately there was little to no traffic on the roadway at that hour and their car finally gave out on them, which enabled us to terminate the pursuit without anyone being injured and no property, other than the suspect vehicle, was damaged. I don’t think they’ll be running from law enforcement anytime soon. They will more than likely be replacing an engine before they go anywhere in that vehicle,” said Chief Johnson

“I understand that our officers found several different types of illegal narcotics inside the vehicle, to include what appeared to be methamphetamine, crack cocaine, marijuana and drug paraphernalia,” Chief Johnson stated. “Apparently the alleged offenders attempted to throw the contraband out the window during the pursuit, the majority of which was located in the vehicle’s rear passenger area. I guess it’s difficult to throw items from a vehicle moving at speeds up to 100 miles per hour.”

“I appreciate the assistance that we received from the Montgomery Sheriff’s Office and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. It doesn’t matter where these offenders run, we all work extremely well together and we’re going to be there to assist each other when these offenders cross jurisdictional boundaries. I’m extremely proud of our officers. Everyone involved did an outstanding job. This started with our officers checking businesses while on routine patrol. While doing so, one of our patrol units observed a vehicle parked behind a closed business. When he attempted to investigate the alleged offenders fled. In doing so, they only delayed their inevitable arrest and unnecessarily placed numerous lives in danger, to include their own. Fleeing from law enforcement is never a good idea and adds to your troubles once you are apprehended. I hope these individuals learned from this experience that fleeing from law enforcement only compounds your problems legally and this could have been much worse. It’s my sincere hope, should these alleged offenders be found guilty, that they will have plenty of time to contemplate their actions and the consequences that come with them,” said Chief Johnson.