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Local law enforcement officers assist in arrest of two fugitives
By Lynn Hotaling
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Travis Leon Webb
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James Luther Bryson
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The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office last week nabbed two suspects wanted for crimes in other jurisdictions.
In two separate operations, local law enforcement personnel assisted with the arrest of prison escapee Travis Leon Webb in Whittier and arrested James Luther Bryson, who is wanted by both Georgia and Florida authorities, in Cashiers.
Webb was apprehended around 5 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 24, after Sheriff’s Office personnel received word from the N.C. Department of Corrections that Webb, 44, who escaped from a Burke County work crew in March 2005, was apparently living in the Camp Creek area, according to Capt. Steve Lillard.
Webb was not home when deputies initially arrived at the Partridge Lane location, so officers watched the area and spotted Webb, who was approaching a residence, around 5 p.m., Lillard said. Officers with the Sheriff’s Office and NCDOC began moving toward Webb’s vehicle, but Webb began to back up, causing a collision with a Sheriff’s Office vehicle, Lillard said.
Webb then fled the area and returned to Camp Creek Road with officers following, Lillard said. After Webb attempted to turn onto a driveway but ran into the ditch, he then tried to get his vehicle back onto the road by backing up, causing a second collision with a Sheriff’s Office vehicle, Lillard said.
Seeing that his vehicle was stuck, Webb fled on foot. According to Lillard, deputies and NCDOC officers searched the area and located the suspect a few minutes later.
Webb is charged with two counts of felony assault with a deadly weapon on a government official, criminal damage to property, driving while license revoked and careless/reckless driving. He was turned over to the Department of Corrections and transported back to Burke County, Lillard said.
After further investigation, additional charges were filed against Webb, including felony fleeing to elude arrest and two counts of misdemeanor child abuse due to the fact that there were two small children in the vehicle when Webb fled, Lillard said.
Investigating officers were deputies Donnie Allen and Rene Clontz, who were assisted by members of the NCDOC and N.C. Highway Patrol.
In the second incident, Bryson, 20, listing a Clayton, Ga., address, was arrested Monday, Nov. 24, at Cashiers Exxon after he stole a vehicle from Acerwood Road in Tuckaseigee, Lillard said.
The investigation began when the victim reported her van had been taken around 8 a.m., and Sheriff’s Office personnel began looking for the vehicle, Lillard said.
The vehicle was spotted near Trout Creek traveling south on N.C. 107, and officers located it off of 107 in Glenville, but the suspect had fled on foot, Lillard said.
After deputies received information that Bryson had gotten a ride to Cashiers Exxon, they teamed with the N.C. Highway Patrol to locate and arrest Bryson at approximately 8:25 a.m., Lillard said.
Further investigation revealed that Bryson was wanted in Georgia and Florida, according to Lillard.
Bryson is charged with larceny of a motor vehicle, possession of stolen property, resist/obstruct/delay a law enforcement officer, fugitive warrant-Georgia and fugitive warrant-Florida.
Lillard said Webb is currently being held in the Jackson County jail under a $25,000 bond.
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