Montgomery County Sheriff killed in car chase, shootout with suspect

UVALDA, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – A Montgomery County Sheriff was killed Monday night chasing a burglary suspect.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigations is looking into the death of Montgomery County Sheriff, Ladson O’Connor.

O’Connor was in his first term as sheriff and was sworn in on January 2013.

He was chasing a burglary suspect when he lost control of his car, and wrecked, according to the GBI news release.

The incident happened Monday around midnight.

“Two Toombs County deputies were assisting a motorist when another vehicle approached them,” the news release added. “When that vehicle got close to the deputies the driver turned the vehicle away from the deputies and attempted to leave the area. The action of the driver caused the deputies to become suspicious. The deputies attempted to stop the vehicle and a pursuit ensued. Law enforcement officers in the area responded to the pursuit. When the suspect vehicle entered Montgomery County, Montgomery County Sheriff Ladson O’Connor began pursuing the vehicle.”

The suspect is identified as 35-year-old Jim Edward Lowery. Lowery is accused of firing shots at deputies during the car chase.

“[Lowery’s] vehicle continued toward Uvalda where Georgia State Troopers had deployed stop sticks,” continued the release. “After [his]vehicle ran over the stop sticks it wrecked.”

Lowery ran from the wreckage and his passenger 36-year-old Nicole Dixie Best was taken into custody. Best had minor injuries she received from the wreck and was taken to a hospital in Vidalia where she was treated and released.
Deputies, police and GBI agents searched during the night for Lowery. They found him around 9:30 Tuesday morning at the McNatt Falls Community in Montgomery County.

“While attempting to take Lowery into custody gunfire was exchanged,” the release added. “Lowery ultimately surrendered to authorities. Lowery had sustained an injury to his leg but it is unknown at this time if the injury is a result of the shooting or if it occurred while he was on the run from law enforcement.”

Lowery was arrested and charged with three counts of Aggravated Assault on a police officer, and one count of Fleeing and Attempting to Elude a Police Officer. All of the charges are felony charges.

The Georgia State Patrol requested the GBI investigate the officer involved shooting incident.

Both incidents are being investigated separately by the GBI with two different field offices working the separate incidents. The GBI Eastman office will investigate the incident involving the pursuit and the GBI Statesboro office will be investigating the officer involved shooting, according to the news release.

An autopsy of Montgomery County Sheriff Ladson O’Connor is being done Tuesday at the GBI Crime Lab in Savannah. O’Connor was in his first term as sheriff and was sworn in on January 2013.

Best is being held at the Montgomery County jail. It is unknown where Lowery is being held in custody.

Check back with 41NBC news for details on this developing story.