A high speed chase was one of two crimes that brought law enforcement Monday west of Normangee to the Hilltop Lakes development.
Madison County Sheriff Travis Neeley says the pursuit began in Walker County and continued into Grimes County before entering Madison County at 1:40 p.m. As a precautionary measure the Madisonville square was blocked off.
Neeley says the chase left town going west on Highway 21, then turned on FM 1452 towards Normangee. The sheriff estimated speeds between 100 and 120 miles per hour and one motorist was run off the road but no one was hurt and the car wasn’t damage.
Neeley says at the intersection of FM 1452 and FM 39 deputies fired at the suspect vehicle, striking the front driver’s side tire. The sheriff says the pursuit continued between 50 to 60 miles per hour on FM 39.
Neeley says Leon County deputies cleared traffic before the chase turned off FM 39 to FM 3 and into Hilltop Lakes. Neeley says the car eventually went off the road, deputies surrounded the vehicle, and the driver was taken to custody.
34 year old Gene Landon Fowler of rural Walker County is in the Huntsville jail accused of domestic violence assault.
Neeley says during the chase, they learned officers were looking for a murder victim buried at Hilltop Lakes. The sheriff says it was determined Fowler was not associated with the murder of 86 year old Bonnie Harkey of San Saba County. A caretaker who worked on Harkey’s pecan farm, Karen Johnson, was also killed. Two arrests have been made.
Madison County Sheriff Travis Neeley visits with WTAW’s Bill Oliver.