Zachary Magowan

Name:
Magowan, Zachary Daniel

Date of Booking:
03/19/2026

Reason(s) For Booking:
DUI

FLEEING OR ATTEMPTING TO ELUDE POLICE OFFICER

FLEEING OR ATTEMPTING TO ELUDE POLICE OFFICER

TOO FAST FOR CONDITIONS/PRIMA FACIE SPEED

FAILURE TO OBEY STOP SIGN

RECKLESS DRIVING

WRONG SIDE OF ROAD

UNSAFE VEHICLE OR EQUIPMENT

RECKLESS DRIVING

IMPROPER PASSING IN NO PASSING ZONE

HIT AND RUN-FAILURE TO STOP AND RENDER AID

Officer’s Narrative:
[Please note: The following is a direct transcription from the official initial incident report. The Georgia Gazette does not fix any spelling or grammatical errors that may exist. Any changes or redactions made by our staff are placed inside brackets. Some errors may exist. All subjects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The topics discussed may be sensitive to some readers. Discretion is advised.]

On the 19th day of March, 2026, I, Sgt Chris Carter, overheard Sgt Phillip Young advising that a bolo (be on the lookout) vehicle was on Highway 365 Northbound at Level Grove, traveling towards Business 441 (Highway 385). The Bolo was a dark gray Honda Civic with a white sticker on the back glass that had recently fled from White County in two separate incidents. White County provided tag [REDACTED], and that they would have charges. I was already on Highway #85 traveling towards Demorest when I turned around to attempt to get back to Highway 365 Northbound.

While turning onto the Northbound exit ramp, I noticed the Honda Civic that Sgt Young had called out, with orange racing stripes on the hood, a modified hood scoop, and a white sticker on the back. I then turned around through the grass at the end of the concrete dividing the lanes, pulled up behind the Honda in the right lane, and confirmed the tag. I then advised Dispatch that I had the vehicle and was waiting for the light to turn green, and that Lt. George Cason was behind me, attempting to turn around.

Once the light turned green, I activated my department-issued emergency lights. The vehicle then drove around a dump truck in the slow lane, at which time I activated my sirens. At which time, Sgt Phillip Young and D/S Andrew Crawford jumped in behind me. Sgt Phillip took over radio communication to dispatch.

We continued East on Highway 385 towards Demorest at approximately 60 mph. Approaching Whitfield North Funeral home, at Chestnut Ave, the vehicle entered the oncoming lane, improperly passing a vehicle. We continued north on Central Ave/Highway 385, then slowed to turn onto Fisk Ave/Cap Fry, where I was able to close in on the vehicle.

Upon approaching Cross St on Fisk Ave, I matched speed and performed a PIT maneuver. My passenger side front end, at a slow speed, struck his driver side passenger fender, causing him to spin around, at which point Deputy Andrew Crawford attempted to pin him in. The driver was able to back out of the PIT, where I then struck the passenger side, trying to keep him pinned against the embankment that he was up against.

The driver was still able to drive out, and Sgt Phillip Young took over the chase. We then continued west down Cap Fry Rd, then took a right onto Cannon Bridge, heading northbound. We continued northbound, gaining speed to approximately 100 mph, where just north of N Falling Waters subdivision, Sgt Young performed a secondary PIT, causing the vehicle to spin approximately 180 degrees before rolling backwards into the embankment.

All deputies then surrounded the vehicle, issuing loud, audible verbal commands for the driver to get out. The driver (later identified as Zachary Magowan) refused, at which time D/S Crawford then used his department-issued baton, breaking the window and opening the door. D/S Crawford and Lt. Cason assisted the driver from the vehicle and onto the ground, where he was placed into handcuffs without incident.

The driver smelled of alcohol and was turned over to D/S Crawford for a DUI investigation. The Georgia State Patrol arrived on the scene to work the accidents. The vehicle was later removed from the scene by Next List Wreck Service Webbs. Zachary Magowan is charged with Fleeing and eluding times two and various traffic charges.

[End of Narrative]