Kenneth Wayne Edwards
(Walhalla, SC)-------------------------------------A wanted fugitive from the state of North Carolina was arrested early this morning, near Seneca, after Oconee County Sheriff’s Office deputies were dispatched to a person with a weapon call, and the Sheriff’s Office S.W.A.T. team was activated.
53 year old Kenneth Wayne Edwards, of Snow Creek Road, was arrested and charged by deputies with one count of Breach of Peace – Aggravated in Nature. Edwards was booked into the Oconee County Detention Center around 5:00am today. Edwards remains in jail, at this time, pending a bond hearing.
A hold has also been placed on Edwards by the Swain County (NC) Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies from the Uniform Patrol Bureau were dispatched to the Snow Creek Road address, around 7:52pm last night, due to reports of a person with a weapon call. Upon arriving on scene, deputies discovered that Edwards had barricaded himself inside of the residence.
Deputies spoke with two bail bondsman, who stated that they arrived at the residence to take Edwards into custody due to Edwards having multiple arrest warrants from North Carolina and for missing court as well.
According to information obtained during the investigation, Edwards went inside of the residence when the bail bondsman arrived on scene. When the bail bondsman got to a door of the residence, Edwards reportedly had a pistol in his hand and pulled the trigger, but the gun did not discharge.
The bail bondsman reportedly then fled behind their vehicles after Edwards reached behind him near a wall. Edwards then made threats to harm the bail bondsman.
Additional deputies arrived on scene. Also, a deputy made contact with Edwards in attempts to bring a peaceful resolution to the situation.
The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office S.W.A.T. team was activated around 10pm yesterday evening and deputies assigned to the S.W.A.T. assembled at a nearby location on Snow Creek Road.
Edwards was eventually taken into custody, without incident, around 12:23am this morning. Edwards was then transported to the Oconee County Detention Center.