Oconee County Sheriff’s Office Arrests Westminster Man on Multiple Charges Related to Two Separate Pursuits

The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office arrested a Westminster man yesterday on multiple charges related to two separate pursuits.

24 year old Kenneth Charles Goss of Latirobe Road was booked into the Oconee County Detention Center around 8:33pm Wednesday. Goss was taken into custody yesterday at an address on Rufus Land Road near Westminster by investigators from the Criminal Investigations Division after receiving information on Goss’ location. Goss was placed under arrest and was then transported to the Oconee County Detention Center.

In regards to the first pursuit that occurred on February 11th, Goss was charged with one count each of Failure to Stop for a Blue Light, Reckless Driving, Unlawful Use of a Tag, Operating an Unregistered Vehicle and Operating an Uninsured Vehicle after a deputy from the P.A.C.E. (Pro-Active Criminal Enforcement) team observed a white Ford Explorer commit a traffic violation on Oak Creek Road near Westminster.

The deputy attempted a traffic stop on the vehicle near Fire Tower Road. The driver, later identified as Goss, did not pull over and the deputy notified dispatch that he was in a pursuit. The pursuit, which involved an additional P.A.C.E. team deputy, concluded near Blackjack Road as the deputies lost sight of the vehicle. The Explorer displayed a tag that was registered to a Honda Civic. The Explorer was also unregistered and uninsured, according to arrest warrants.

In regards to the second pursuit on February 23rd, Goss was charged by an investigator from the Criminal Investigations Division with one count each of Failure to Stop for a Blue Light, Reckless Driving, Driving under Suspension, Malicious Injury to Personal Property, Operating an Unregistered Vehicle and Unlawful Carrying of a Pistol after the investigator, in search of Goss, observed a silver Ford Ranger turn onto Tabor Road near Westminster.

The deputy observed that the truck did not have a license plate and the investigator attempted a traffic stop. The driver, later identified as Goss, did not pull over, accelerated the truck and drove in the opposite lane of travel. The pursuit eventually made its way onto Toccoa Highway, where a deputy from the P.A.C.E. team took over as the lead vehicle in the pursuit. The pursuit ended in the area of Jenkins Bridge Road around Beaver Pond Road as deputies lost sight of the vehicle.

Investigators later discovered the vehicle involved in an accident in a pasture on Jenkins Bridge Road as the vehicle had struck a metal farm gate. Deputies observed Goss, with a firearm in his hand, run up the drive-way of a residence. Investigators pursued Goss on foot and conducted a search of some trailers on the property; however, Goss was not located. Goss was operating the Ford Ranger while his license was suspended.

After his arrest, Goss was also served an arrest warrant from the Westminster Police Department on a charge of Shoplifting and was also served two Magistrate Bench Warrants.

At this time, Goss remains in custody at the Oconee County Detention Center on a combined $23,727.50 surety bond.

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