THOMASVILLE — An occupant in a vehicle that narrowly missed striking a Thomas County Sheriff’s Office deputy in a school zone Friday is wanted for murder in Florida.

The deputy was directing school traffic about 3:30 p.m. on the U.S. 84 bypass when a car traveling east did not yield to the officer’s instructions and almost struck the officer, according to reports.

The officer got into his vehicle and attempted a traffic stop. The car traveled to U.S. 319, turned south and headed back toward Thomasville and turned north on U.S. 19. Thomasville Post 12 Georgia State Patrol troopers joined the pursuit, and the car went into the 19 median just north of Ga. 202.

The driver and a passenger were taken into custody. One of the occupants, Devin Michael Boyd, 19, a Florida resident, told a deputy he was wanted in Florida in connection with a shooting, Capt. Steven Jones, sheriff’s office public information officer, said.

Boyd’s name was entered into the National Crime Information Center. “A warrant was located on him in Lake County, Florida, for attempted murder,” Jones said.

Boyd was transported to the Thomas County Jail, where he will be charged with numerous traffic violations and possession of methamphetamine.

Senior reporter Patti Dozier can be reached at (229) 226-2400, ext. 1820