Holmes County Man Leads Deputies on Wild Ride in Stolen School Bus
Holmes County, FL – On June 30, 2017, a call came into the Holmes County Sheriff’s Office Communications Center that a subject had been shot and the suspect had stolen a bus. It was soon determined that a white male identified as James Irvin Bourgeois went to a residence on Hwy 177 in the Bethlehem Community asking for a ride. When the home owner denied him, Bourgeois hit the owner in the head with a claw hammer several times.
Bourgeois took off running to the residence next door and attempted to enter this residence; the door was locked. Bourgeois took the hammer and knocked the glass out of the front door and another window in the front of the house. The home owner confronted Bourgeois and he took off running toward Bethlehem School where he attempted to car jack the mail lady.
Tpr. Lewis who was off duty was riding by and saw what was going on and tried to detain Bourgeois, however he ran to Bethlehem School where an armed civilian attempted to hold him at gunpoint. Bourgeois jumped on a bus that was at the school and took the bus and started traveling down Hwy 160 toward Hwy 79, several units from the Holmes County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Highway Patrol got behind the bus and attempted to stop it. The driver of the bus turned south on Hwy 79 and refused to stop. He continued down Hwy 79, driving erratically, traveling head-on with oncoming vehicles and traveling in wrong lanes.
Bourgeois left the roadway several times attempting to strike several deputies.
Due to the fact that the bus was headed toward Bonifay which could possibly endanger the lives of many citizens and his disregard for lives, the desicion was made for deputies to get around the bus and position themselves to fire shots at the tires to disable the bus and keep it from making it to town. It continued until one of the tires came off causing Bourgeois to lose control and hitting the woods just before getting into town.
Bourgeois was taken into custody after he fought with deputies. He faces numerous felony charges. The victim who got hit in head with hammer had some minor injuries nothing life threatening and he was taken to hospital to be checked out.
Sheriff Tate states that this was a very serious incident that could have turned out very bad. Thankfully, there were no serious injuries to all involved.
Sheriff Tate would like to also thank the Bonifay Police Department, the Florida Highway Patrol, Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Bonifay Fire Department, State Fire Marshall Office, the State Attorney’s Office, Holmes County EMS and the citizens involved for their assistance.