Oconee County Sheriff’s Office Arrests Georgia Man on Charges Related to a Traffic Accident Investigation

Justin Lee Parker

(Walhalla, SC)-------------------------------------A Georgia man remains in jail today, pending a bond hearing, after his arrest on multiple charges related to an investigation by the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office into a traffic accident where the suspect was driving a stolen vehicle.

30 year old Justin Lee Parker, who has listed addresses in Atlanta and Maxeys, GA (which is in Oglethorpe County), was booked into the Oconee County Detention Center at around 12:00pm Wednesday. 

Parker was charged with three counts of Assault and Battery of a High and Aggravated Nature and one count each of Assault on a Police Officer while Resisting Arrest, Grand Larceny, Malicious Injury to Personal Property (Value $2,000 or Less), Malicious Injury to Personal Property (Value $10,000 or more), Striking Fixtures On or Adjacent to the Roadway, Transporting Alcohol with a Seal Broken and Reckless Driving. 

The Sheriff’s Office began an investigation on Tuesday morning of this week after responding to the intersection of Highway 28 at E. Halfway Branch Road in reference to a report of a stolen vehicle and a traffic accident that occurred. 

The Deputy confirmed that the suspect, Parker, had stolen a 2022 Ford Bronco from a Walhalla area auto dealership.  The Deputy made contact with Parker and attempted to take him into custody.  According to an arrest warrant, Parker resisted arrest and grabbed the Deputy and threw him to the ground.

Parker was taken into custody as additional Deputies and Police Officers arrived on scene.  During the course of the investigation, Deputies learned that Parker had struck two vehicles, a 2007 Honda Civic and a 2018 Honda CRV, on Highway 28 while driving at a high rate of speed with the Bronco he was operating. 

There were two occupants in the Honda Civic and one occupant in the Honda CRV.  The three persons are considered victims in the Assault and Battery of a High and Aggravated Nature arrest warrants. 

The occupant of the Honda CRV and Parker were transported to the hospital for further treatment and evaluation.  The two occupants of the Honda Civic were not transported to the hospital and were not injured, according to a Deputy who was on scene.

In a separate investigation that occurred late Sunday evening, Parker was arrested and booked into the Oconee County Detention Center early Monday morning on a charge of Public Disorderly Conduct in relation to a Suspicious Person call on Highlands Highway at Yellow Branch Road, which is near Walhalla.  Parker was released from jail on Monday morning on a Personal Recognizance Bond in relation to the Public Disorderly charge. 

According to arrest warrants, the value of the stolen Ford Bronco is approximately $56,000.  Arrest warrants also state that Parker struck a sign on Highway 28 and that Parker was transporting alcohol inside of a vehicle as he possessed a bottle of liquor with a broken seal.

The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office is continuing its investigation.