Montgomery County man charged with attempted murder for firing at cyclist, police officers
Charles Bowne III remained in custody Thursday, court records show, after a judge ruled he was a danger to the community.
A Pennsburg man led police from multiple jurisdictions on a two-county car chase Wednesday, officials said, during which he fired a .44 Magnum revolver at the officers pursuing him.
Charles Bowne III, 35, was charged Thursday with attempted murder, robbery, aggravated assault, and related crimes in the incident, which began when he robbed a cyclist at gunpoint in Marlborough Township, police said.
Bowne remained in custody after District Judge Katherine McGill denied his bail, ruling that he was a danger to the community given his actions. There was no indication he had hired an attorney.
The motive for the violent outburst remained unclear Thursday.
Investigators were first notified of Bowne just before noon Wednesday, when the cyclist used a passerby’s cell phone to report that Bowne had robbed him, according to the affidavit of probable cause for his arrest.
The man said Bowne had yelled at him to “go home to [his] family” as he was riding on Swamp Creek Road, the affidavit said.
Bowne then pointed a revolver at the man, demanding his bike and cell phone. The man ran from Bowne, who fired his revolver at him five or six times, missing every shot, the affidavit said.
Not long after, a Marlborough Township police officer saw Bowne’s Ford Mustang parked on the side of Swamp Creek Road, and parked his police car to speak with him.
Before the officer could get out of his car, Bowne fired his revolver at him and sped away.
During the nearly two-hour chase that followed, Bowne continued to fire at officers from multiple police departments in Bucks and Montgomery Counties, as well as state police troopers, the affidavit said.
He was taken into custody peacefully in West Rockhill Township just before 3 p.m. after speaking by phone with a crisis negotiator, according to officials.
No one was injured in the shooting or chase.
Inside Bowne’s Mustang, police found three guns: the Ruger .44 Magnum revolver he allegedly used to fire at the officers, a .22-caliber rifle, and a 7.62 x 39mm pistol.
He is scheduled to appear for a preliminary hearing on June 23.