Bear Bait incident leads to Attempted Murder Charge in Mills River

MILLS RIVER -- Henderson County Sheriffs Office Report Tuesday August 13, 2018 Shots Fired Leads to Arrests

August 13, 2018

At approximately 8:05pm on August 11, 2018, Henderson County Sheriff’s Office deputies were dispatched to the South Mills River Road area following a report of someone firing a gun from a truck in the roadway. The NC Wildlife Resources Commission was also contacted due to concerns and a history of wildlife poaching in that area. Henderson County deputies located the unoccupied vehicle behind the Mills River Community Center building. As deputies tried to locate the occupants of the vehicle, shots were fired from the woods behind the community center in their direction. Following further communication, two male suspects exited the woods.

Hunter Alan Wright, age 22 of 626 Old Highway 64 in Etowah, was taken into custody without incident. Wright was charged with misdemeanor resisting, delaying or obstructing a public officer. He was released from the Henderson County Jail on a $500.00 secured bond.

James Bradley Owen, age 21 of 1132 Gash Road in Horse Shoe, refused to comply with deputies’ commands and an altercation occurred as he was placed into custody. Owen was arrested for felony first degree attempted murder, felony assault on a law enforcement officer and misdemeanor resisting, delaying or obstructing a government official. Owen received additional charges from the NC Wildlife Resources Commission for misdemeanor placing processed food products as bait for black bears and discharging a firearm from the right-of-way of a state road. He remains in the Henderson County Jail on a $100,500.00 secured bond.

As Owen fought with deputies during the arrest, a dog in his company bit a deputy and was shot. Owen’s father, James Gary Owen, age 49 of 1132 Gash Road in Horse Shoe, came to the scene and was also arrested for misdemeanor resisting a public officer. He was released from the Henderson County Jail on a $400.00 secured bond.

*Editor's note: A criminal charge is an accusation, by law, a person accused of a crime is innocent until proven in a court of law.