Seneca Man charged in Early Tuesday Pursuit

The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office arrested a Seneca man early Tuesday morning on multiple charges after a pursuit that ended on I-85. A deputy on routine patrol observed a silver Mitsubishi turn onto West-Oak Highway without using a turn signal. The deputy also discovered through dispatch that the tag on the vehicle belonged to a Honda Accord and the deputy initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle at West-Oak Highway near Crooks Road for improper display and failure to use a turn signal. The driver, 44-year-old Wayne Eugene Raffaldt, disregarding the deputy and a pursuit began. The pursuit covered portions of the Westminster, Fair Play and Townville areas and into Anderson County. After the vehicle entered onto I-85 southbound, a second deputy deployed stop sticks in an attempt to end the chase safely. The vehicle struck the stop sticks and came to rest on I-85 near Exit 4. The suspect was placed into custody and a search produced marijuana as well as methamphetamine. After being processed, the vehicle was towed. Raffaldt was charged in traffic tickets with driving under suspension, unlawful use of a license plate, reckless driving, simple possession of marijuana and a violation of the county’s littering ordinance. Raffaldt was also booked in on a temporary custody order until warrants could be obtained charging him with failure to stop for a blue light, possession of methamphetamine and for being a habitual traffic offender.