Alleged burglar runs from police during marathon in Dalton

DALTON, Georgia(WDEF) – Police say an alleged burglary suspect who was on the run, tried to get away by from officers by blending in with a group half marathon runners, but his efforts failed.

Police say an alleged burglary suspect on the run tried to get away by from officers by blending in with a group half marathon runners, but his efforts failed.

James Ownbey, 26, of Rocky Face, is a suspect in a pair of burglaries on Mount Sinai Road. He became a suspect after he was arrested Friday for alleged shoplifting from the Shugart Road Walmart. After Ownbey bonded out on that arrest, detectives discovered evidence linking Ownbey to the Mount Sinai Road burglary.

During the Red Carpet Half Marathon on Saturday morning, a detective handling traffic control at the intersection of Thornton Avenue and Tyler Street saw Ownbey walk out of the wood line near some mini-warehouses and start walking south along Thornton. After apparently seeing the detective, Ownbey, wearing jeans and a long sleeved red shirt under a black t-shirt, joined a group of half-marathon runners and ran along with them as he passed the detective, apparently attempting to blend in with the group. The detective called patrol units to look for Ownbey in the area of Benton Street. Two patrol units searched the area and found Ownbey walking alone on Benton back towards Hawthorne Street. Officers told him to stop and after pausing, he attempted to run. Officers chased him a short distance and took him into custody.

He was charged with burglary and obstruction.

Dalton detectives are still investigating possible connections between Ownbey and other burglaries and further charges are possible.