A Cleveland man with a prior record was put back in jail this week after he wrecked and assaulted a deputy, investigators say.
White County deputies arrested John Lowrey on Sunday, March 26, while responding to a report of a wreck with a possible intoxicated driver on Goat Neck Road at Rainbow Circle. Deputies arrived at the scene to find the 40-year-old Lowrey sitting in a wrecked Toyota Camry with its engine running.
“Deputies approached the vehicle, and Lowrey began driving in reverse, then turned and drove past the deputies,” says Capt. Clay Hammond of the White County Sheriff’s Office.
The deputies were able to get out of the path of the fleeing vehicle. It didn’t go far. According to the incident report, Lowrey “struck another tree” a short distance away. Deputies then removed him from the vehicle and handcuffed him.
After his arrest, Hammond says Lowrey “was still uncooperative and spit on a deputy who was attempting to identify him.”
The deputies charged Lowrey with DUI, aggravated assault on a peace officer, and felony obstruction of law enforcement officers. In addition, they charged him with the following:
- Open container,
- Fleeing/attempting to elude,
- Failure to maintain lane,
- Duty to notify the owner upon striking an object,
- Seatbelt violation, and
- Interference w/gov’t property (felony).
Jail records show that Lowrey has a long list of priors including home invasion and drug violations. As of Wednesday, March 29, he remained in the White County Detention Center on a $51,000 bond.
