Oconee County Sheriff’s Office Arrests Oconee County Brothers on Multiple Charges after Weekend Pursuit

The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office arrested a pair of brothers over the weekend on multiple charges after a Saturday evening pursuit. One of the brothers had four outstanding General Session Bench Warrants, two of which were for Trafficking in Methamphetamine.

42 year old Robert Edward Payne, who has a listed address of Earls Mill Road in Seneca, was booked into the Oconee County Detention Center around 1:46am Sunday. He has been charged with two counts each of Assault and Battery – 1st Degree and Hindering an Officer. At this time, Robert Payne remains in custody at the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office on a combined $36,000 surety bond.

40 year old Rondal David Payne, who has a listed address of Quintana Drive in Westminster, was booked into the Oconee County Detention Center around 1:51am Sunday. He has been charged with one count each of Passing Unlawfully, Disregarding a Stop Sign, Driving under Suspension, Reckless Driving, Failure to stop for a Blue Light and Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, along with the four outstanding General Session Bench Warrants. At this time, Rondal Payne remains in custody at the Oconee County Detention Center on a combined $20,850 surety bond.

A deputy from the Uniform Patrol Division, on routine patrol around 6:15pm Saturday, observed a motorcycle on S. Highway 11 near W. Bear Swamp Road accelerate in speed after a vehicle in front of the deputy’s vehicle, and behind the motorcycle, turn down a different road. The deputy observed the operator of the motorcycle, later identified as Rondal Payne, to be driving in an unsafe and reckless matter, upon which the deputy attempted to initiate a traffic stop by activating his lights, sirens and the Pursuit Alert box inside of his patrol vehicle. The motorcycle did not pull over and the deputy terminated the pursuit due to safety concerns.

The motorcycle made a turn onto Mountain Road and when circumstances were safe to do so, the deputy initiated the pursuit again; however, the motorcycle continued to disregard the blue lights and sirens. The motorcycle was observed by deputies to pass multiple vehicles on a double yellow line into the opposite lane of travel and also disregard stop signs as the pursuit continued.

The pursuit continued from the Westminster area to the Walhalla area and eventually into Picket Post and then into Cheohee Valley in the Tamassee area, where the pursuit came to an end on Knox Creek Road. After a short foot pursuit, Rondal Payne was taken into custody. After Rondal Payne was placed under arrest, a deputy located a quantity of Methamphetamine on his person. Dispatch also informed the deputy that Rondal Payne was Driving under Suspension. Paramedics transported Rondal Payne to Oconee Memorial Hospital. After his release, Rondal Payne was transported to the Detention Center.

Before the pursuit concluded on Knox Creek Road, a gray in color Chevrolet Astro van made attempts to collide with the lead Sheriff’s Office Patrol vehicle in the pursuit. A second deputy, who was following and supporting the lead vehicle in the pursuit, attempted to make contact with the driver of the van but the van drove away.

The deputy was able to locate the van and the driver, identified as Robert Payne, at an address on Knox Creek Road. He was taken into custody and transported to the Detention Center.

Both vehicles were towed away from the scene. The pursuit covered approximately 26.9 miles and lasted approximately 34 minutes.