Walhalla Man arrested on Weapons Charges

The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office arrested a Walhalla man Sunday on charges of a felon being in possession of a firearm, explains Public Information Officer Jimmy Watt. “38-year-old Michael Duane Smith of Snead Road was booked into the Oconee County Detention Center after a deputy responded to South Highway 11 near Mountain Road in regards to a person reported to be intoxicated. Once on scene, the deputy discovered a white male, later identified as Smith, unresponsive in the driver’s seat of a Honda Accord. The deputy was able to get Smith to respond and with the assistance of a second deputy, both were able escort Smith out of the vehicle. During the process of escorting Smith to a deputy’s vehicle, one of the deputy’s noticed a handgun in Smith’s waist band. For safety purposes of both law enforcement and for Smith, the handgun was secured. A check with dispatch revealed that Smith is prohibited from possessing or buying a firearm and subsequently, Smith was placed under arrest and transported to the Oconee County Detention Center, where he was placed on a Temporary Custody Order until an arrest warrant was obtained today.” Smith remains in custody at the Oconee County Detention Center pending a bond hearing.