Oconee County Sheriff’s Office Charges Mountain Rest Man in Friday Afternoon Pursuit and S.W.A.T. Activation

Doyle Eugene McCall, Jr.

(Walhalla, SC)-------------------------------------The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office officially charged today a Mountain Rest man who led Deputies on a pursuit, and then barricaded himself inside of the vehicle he was driving after a traffic accident yesterday afternoon.

57 year old Doyle Eugene McCall, Jr. of Lisa Lane was charged by Deputies with one count each of Failure to Stop for a Blue Light, Resisting Arrest, Reckless Driving and Driving under Suspension – 2^nd Degree.  McCall, Jr. was also served with a Magistrates Bench Warrant.

During an initial appearance before a Judge today, McCall, Jr. was given a combined $16,710.00 surety bond on the Sheriff’s Office charges.  McCall, Jr. was also sentenced to 30 days in jail on the Magistrates Bench Warrant, according to jail records. 

In a news release that was issued by the Sheriff’s Office on Friday evening, the Sheriff’s Office S.W.A.T. team was activated yesterday afternoon due to a barricaded subject inside of a vehicle.

At 1:12pm Friday, a Deputy assigned to the Warrants Unit initiated a traffic stop on a silver in color 2005 Lexus SUV that was being driven by McCall, Jr.  McCall, Jr. had an active Magistrates Bench Warrant for Driving under Suspension.  McCall, Jr is also due in court next week on a charge of Drug Trafficking that was obtained by a partnering law enforcement agency.

McCall, Jr. pulled over on Sheep Farm Road near Alberts Road, which is near the Bountyland Community.  The Deputy then approached the vehicle that McCall was in.  However, McCall, Jr. pulled away and a pursuit began.  The pursuit terminated when McCall, Jr. wrecked his vehicle on Highway 183 and Unity Road, which is near the city limits of Walhalla, at approximately 1:25pm Friday.  The Lexus ended up on its driver’s side in a ditch on the side of the road. 

After the accident, Deputies discovered that there was a female passenger inside of the vehicle and that McCall, Jr. was armed with a gun.  Crisis negotiators were called to the scene and the Sheriff’s Office S.W.A.T. team was activated at approximately 1:31pm yesterday.   

Highway 183 was shut down from W. Bear Swamp Road to near Winding Way yesterday with assistance from the Walhalla Police Department.  The female passenger was able to leave the vehicle unharmed.  Negotiators made contact with McCall, Jr. in an attempt to resolve the situation peacefully as he remained in the vehicle armed with a pistol. 

Paramedics also responded to the scene as well in order to provide medical treatment to McCall, Jr. or any Deputies that may have needed assistance due to the heat.  A doctor assigned to the Sheriff’s Office team also responded and stood by to provide medical assistance if needed. 

Friday evening, McCall, Jr. surrendered peacefully to Deputies as he crawled out of the vehicle and was taken into custody at approximately 7:08pm.  McCall, Jr. was transported by ambulance to the hospital by paramedics for further treatment and evaluation. 

After being released from the hospital, McCall, Jr. was transported to the Oconee County Detention Center, where he was booked into jail at around 11:12pm yesterday. 

The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office is continuing its investigation.  The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the Walhalla Police Department for their assistance and help yesterday.