SALT LAKE CITY — Newly obtained body camera footage shows the moments when a federal fugitive with over 20 years of felony charges and convictions, attempts to hide from police after fleeing three times within several days.
In 2022, a Utah federal judge sentenced Bobby Dean Cowell, 45, of Springville, Utah, to two years in an Oregon federal correctional institution after being found guilty of being in possession of firearms as a felon.
According to court documents, Cowell was released in June 2024 under the terms of being supervised by a U.S. probation officer in Utah. Shortly after being released, Cowell was found to have violated his probation after failing two tests that found traces of alcohol in his urine.
In July, the probation officer visited Cowell after he was cited for driving without a license. A couple of days later, the probation officer spoke to Cowell about his alcohol use and how he broke the terms of his probation.
Cowell was instructed to attend treatment at Judicial Supervision Services for “his substance abuse treatment and testing,” according to the probation officer's report. However, court documents stated that Cowell did not attend treatment, prompting the reopening of his case and his detention.
According to court documents, Cowell was released in September 2025 as the case continued, with the order that he not violate his probation.
Murray traffic stop
On March 31, a detective with the Murray Police Department initiated a traffic stop after he noticed a white truck “entering I-215, driving over the median at the I-15 interchange exit lane, then back to the I-215 lane,” according to court documents.
The white truck pulled over and the detective identified the driver as Cowell. The detective ran a records check on Cowell and found that he had a warrant for his arrest, prompting the detective to call for more officers.
In body camera footage, as the additional officer arrived at the scene, Cowell fled from police in his truck. Police opted not to chase Cowell.
Bobby Dean Cowell driving away from Murray police officers during a traffic stop on March 31, 2026. (The Murray Police Department)
Fleeing from police
On April 7, Cowell was reported fleeing from another Murray police detective in his white truck during an investigation of a stolen trailer. Cowell was later found entering the Maverik gas station at 425 S. Redwood Road in Salt Lake City.
According to police statements, Murray police officers and U.S. marshals prepared to arrest Cowell as he walked out of the store. When Cowell exited, a Murray detective attempted to arrest him, but he fled on foot and ignored commands to stop.
Bobby Dean Cowell running away from Murray police detectives as they attempted to arrest him outside of a Maverik gas station on April 7, 2026. (The Murray Police Department)
“(Cowell) ran north through the parking lot towards a fence to a mobile home park at 1594 W. 400 South. He attempted to jump the vinyl fence but he broke through the fence and broke several panels of fencing as he fled,” the police affidavit stated.
For approximately an hour, body camera footage shows officers searching the mobile home park for Cowell until he was found hiding under a car by a K9 unit. He was arrested without further incident.
According to court documents, police found “suspected Suboxone” in his pockets during his arrest. Detectives later found the stolen trailer and its contents.
Sentencing
Cowell was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail and later charged with two felony counts of theft by receiving stolen property, a felony and misdemeanor charge of failing to stop at the command of police, and a misdemeanor charge of property damage.
On May 1, Cowell was sentenced to an indeterminate term not to exceed five years in the Utah State Prison after pleading guilty to the felony charge of failing to stop at the command of police and the misdemeanor charge of property damage.
According to the sentencing documents, Cowell's prison term was suspended, and he was placed on probation for 36 months; the other charges were dismissed with prejudice. Federal court documents show Cowell's case is ongoing and he is on supervised release.
According to Utah court records, since 2004, Cowell has been charged with at least 19 felonies and 20 misdemeanors, with only seven felony charges resulting in convictions.
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