On 01/15/2020, Cpl. J. Brantley was sitting stationary on I-16 using LIDAR to observed passing motorists. Cpl. Brantley observed a white Ford Taurus traveling eastbound on I-16 at a high rate of speed, activated his LIDAR and checked the vehicle at 103mph. Cpl. Brantley activated his emergency equipment and caught up to the vehicle and conducted a traffic stop. The Taurus pulled over near mile marker 47 and the front passenger jumped out of the vehicle with his hands up. While Cpl. Brantley was giving the passenger verbal commands, the driver fled away in the Taurus. The passenger was detained and a look-out was placed on the Taurus. Approximately 20 minutes later, LCSO deputies located the Taurus parked in some planted pines on Hillbridge Road near Hwy 338. The vehicle’s brakes were still smoking and a search began for the driver. It was learned that the driver was Leon Timothy Bush. An extensive search was done for Bush using K-9 dogs from Wilkinson County Sheriff’s Office and also a GSP helicopter. After several hours of searching, the search was called off. We did not know if Bush was still in the area or not so deputies continued to patrol the area after the search was called off.
Later this same day, citizens in the area started calling 911 with sightings of a suspicious male in the area. Before Deputies could make contact with the suspicious person, he fled back into the woods. At that time, a perimeter was set up and shortly after, Bush walked out on his own will and was taken into custody without incident. Bush was transported to the LCSO and charged with speeding and fleeing.
We would like to thank Wilkinson County Sheriff’s Office, Georgia State Patrol and State Probation for their help in this search.