Westminster Woman and Seneca Man Arrested on Charges Related to February 2nd Pursuit

The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office arrested a Westminster woman and Seneca man yesterday on charges related to a February 2nd pursuit that began in Oconee County and ended in Jackson County, NC.

22 year old Amy Denise Fleming and 30 year old Artis O’Neal Wright were booked into the Oconee County Detention Center around 2:50pm and 2:15pm respectively after being transported from the Detention Center in Jackson County to the Oconee County Detention Center by deputies from the Warrants Division. Both Fleming and Wright have been charged with one count each of Failure to stop for a Blue Light, Reckless Driving and Possession of Methamphetamine. Wright has additionally been charged with one count of Assault and Battery of a High and Aggravated Nature for attempting to use the vehicle involved in the pursuit to ram a deputy’s vehicle off the road during the pursuit. Wright is also charged with Driving under Suspension and with a Probation Violation. Fleming was also served with a Magistrates Bench Warrant.

Investigators from the Criminal Investigations Division were responding February 2nd to an address in Salem in regards to locating Fleming and Wright, who were wanted for charges out of the state of Georgia. Investigators with the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office had obtained Fugitive from Justice Warrants against both subjects in regards to charges in Franklin County, GA. According to the Fugitive from Justice Warrants, which have since been dropped by the Sheriff’s Office, Wright was wanted in Georgia on a charge of Armed Robbery and Fleming was wanted in Georgia on charges of Possession of a Knife or Firearm in Commission of a Crime, Criminal Attempt and Party to a Crime.

Investigators located Fleming’s vehicle in the area of Highway 11 and Picket Post Road with Fleming driving and Wright as a passenger. Investigators attempted a traffic stop, however, Fleming would not pull over and accelerated the speed of the vehicle and passed other vehicles in a no-passing zone. Fleming turned off of Highway 11 onto side roads but eventually made her way back to Highway 11 northbound. During this time, Fleming and Wright switched positions in the vehicle and Wright took over control of the vehicle.

Deputies and officers attempted to use stop sticks to bring the pursuit to a conclusion. Wright drove the vehicle off Highway 11 northbound onto Whitewater Falls Road. The pursuit crossed the state line into Jackson County, NC. On Highway 107, the pursuit concluded as the vehicle came to a stop. Wright and Fleming then fled from deputies on foot down an embankment. Wright and Fleming were both taken into custody and paramedics were called to the scene for injuries Fleming suffered while fleeing the scene of foot. A search of the vehicle before it was towed from the scene produced a quantity of Methamphetamine inside.

Fleming and Wright were taken into custody, at that time, by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office. The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office placed a hold, at that time, on both subjects with the Detention Center in Jackson County.

The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank our law enforcement partners with the Salem Police Department and the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office for their help and assistance in the pursuit earlier this month.

At this time, Wright remains in custody at the Oconee County Detention Center on a combined $91,040 surety bond. Fleming remains in custody as well at the Detention Center on a combined $10,440 surety bond.