Man arrested for breaking into home, homeowner arrested on meth charges | Crime

     On December 17, 2012, at approximately 10:18 CST, the Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force, the Phenix City Police Department and the Lee County Sheriff's Office arrested Tyler Ryan Dowling (18), of Smiths, on the following outstanding Lee County warrants: one count of Theft of Property in the Second Degree, one count of Burglary in the First Degree, one count of Robbery in the First Degree and one count of Attempted Murder.  Dowling, a Lee County fugitive from justice, was wanted for his involvement in a robbery.  Dowling was arrested at a residence located on Lee Road 602 in Phenix City, Alabama.  The homeowner, William Thomas Hightower (38), was also arrested and charged with one count of Unlawful Manufacturing of a Controlled Substance in the First Degree (Methamphetamine) and one count of Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance (Methamphetamine) after law enforcement officers discovered an active methamphetamine lab inside the home.  Dowling's charges stem from the following event:

     On November 27, 2012, at approximately 11:31 PM/CST, the Lee County Sheriff's Office received a 911 call from a residence located in the 2500 block of Lee Road 117 Opelika, Alabama, in which the caller reported that he had been robbed by three unknown males inside his residence.  According to the victim, the offenders shot at him several times and struck him in the head with a handgun.  The offenders then took the victim's wallet, several swords, a guitar, and a shotgun before fleeing.  The victim suffered minor injuries during this burglary, robbery, and assault.

     Dowling is currently being held in the Lee County Detention Facility on a ($138,000.00) One Hundred and Thirty Eight Thousand Dollar bond.  Hightower is currently being held in the Lee County Detention Facility on a ($33,000.00) Thirty Three Thousand Dollar bond. 

Information Source: Lee County Sheriff's Office