Evan Levi Ridley
(Walhalla, SC)--------------------------------A Walhalla man remains in jail today after his arrest last night, on multiple outstanding warrants, after a traffic accident yesterday evening in the city of Seneca.
Before his arrest last night, 27 year old Evan Levi Ridley, of Crowes Roost Road, had 10 outstanding arrest warrants in relation to investigations conducted in the fall of 2022 by the Sheriff’s Office. Due to the investigation into last night’s incident and traffic accident, Ridley has been charged additionally with seven total counts (one count each of Reckless Driving, Driving under Suspension, Failure to Obey a Traffic Control Device, a Habitual Traffic Offender, Resisting Arrest, Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and Hit and Run Involving Minor Personal Injury).
At this time, Ridley remains at the Oconee County Detention Center. Ridley will also be required to wear an electronic monitoring device, as a condition of bond, should he be released.
A deputy from the P.A.C.E. (Pro-Active Criminal Enforcement Team) attempted a traffic stop on the driver of a silver 2006 Buick Rainier, later identified as Ridley, due to a traffic violation. Ridley drove into the intersection of E. South 1st Street and S. Fairplay in Seneca, where the vehicle he was operating struck a 2021 GMC Yukon.
After the accident, Ridley ran from the scene and was later captured after hiding in a trash can on Ram Cat Alley. Ridley was taken into custody, brought back to the scene of the accident and searched. The search produced a quantity of Methamphetamine on his person. A dog inside the Buick Rainier was also removed from the scene.
The South Carolina Highway Patrol conducted the investigation into the traffic accident. Personnel from the city of Seneca, Prisma Health, the Seneca Police Department and the Seneca Fire Department provided mutual aid and assistance to the Sheriff’s Office last night.
Ridley has also been charged by an Investigator with the Criminal Investigations Bureau with one count of Petit Larceny as the Buick Rainier that Ridley was operating, when the traffic accident occurred last night, was reported stolen to the Sheriff’s Office yesterday afternoon and was entered into the National Crimes Information Center database.
Investigators also obtained additional arrest warrants today against Ridley in relation to property crime investigations. Ridley has been charged with one count of Possession of a Stolen Vehicle in regards to being in possession of beige 2000 Cadillac Escalade which had been reported stolen to the Hendersonville (NC) city police department on February 7th. The vehicle was located by a deputy from the Uniform Patrol Bureau late yesterday evening on Burns Drive near Seneca.
Evidence obtained by Investigators has also led to charges being filed against Ridley for stealing catalytic converters off of two work vans, a 2014 Econoline Van and a 2020 Chevrolet Express Van, located at a business on Friendship Road in Seneca on February 14th. For that crime, Ridley has been charged with two counts of Breaking into a Motor Vehicle, two counts of Petit Larceny and two counts of Malicious Injury to Property.
Additionally, Ridley has also been charged in a second catalytic converter theft investigation, also occurring on February 14th, at a business on Richland Road near Seneca. Ridley is charged with one count of each of Petit Larceny, Breaking into a Motor Vehicle and Malicious Injury to Property for breaking into a white 2001 Nissan Work van and stealing the catalytic converter, causing damage to the van.
The 10 outstanding arrest warrants obtained by the Sheriff’s Office against Ridley stem from two separate investigations in late 2022.
Ridley was charged with one count of Shoplifting in relation to stealing athletic tape from the Dollar General location on Highlands Highway near Walhalla back on November 16th, 2022.
Ridley was also charged with one count each of Failure to Stop for a Blue Light, Driving under Suspension, a Habitual Traffic Offender, Reckless Driving, Use of a License Plate Registered to Another Vehicle, Resisting Arrest, Receiving Stolen Goods, Unlawful Carrying of a Pistol and Possession of Stolen Non-Ferrous Metals which stemmed from an attempted traffic stop by a deputy from the Uniform Patrol Bureau on a white Chevrolet Trailblazer, which was displaying a stolen tag, on Burnt Tanyard Road back on December 17th of last year.
The driver of the vehicle, later identified as Ridley, did not pull over and a pursuit ensued. The pursuit ended on Courtney Drive as Ridley ran away from the scene.
The Trailblazer was towed away from the scene. After obtaining a search warrant, an Investigator from the Criminal Investigations Bureau obtained a search warrant for the vehicle. A catalytic converter and a handgun were discovered inside of the Trailblazer.
Further investigation revealed that Ridley’s driver’s license had been suspended and the tag on the Trailblazer, that Ridley was operating, was actually registered to a Dodge Ram pickup.
The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office is continuing its investigation.
The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the city of Seneca, Prisma Health, the Seneca Police Department, the Seneca Fire Department and the South Carolina Highway Patrol for their help and mutual aid in regards to last night’s incident.
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