(Walhalla, SC)-------------------------------------A Seneca man, who was booked into the Oconee County Detention Center Wednesday evening due to charges obtained during a traffic stop, was charged by Investigators today with Involuntary Manslaughter in a drug overdose investigation.
48 year old Stephen Maxwell Bruce, of Peachtree Lane, was charged in the overdose death which occurred on September 13th of this year. On that evening, Deputies from the Uniform Patrol Bureau responded to an address on Landon Drive near Seneca in regards to two persons who overdosed. One person, an adult male, was revived after receiving medical treatment and one person, an adult female, died at the scene after life saving measures were unsuccessful.
After arriving on scene to begin an investigation, the Deputies discovered narcotics inside a room of the residence. An Investigator from the Criminal Investigations Bureau responded to the scene as well a Narcotics Agent from the Sheriff’s Office. The narcotics discovered at the scene were sent off for lab testing.
Based upon evidence obtained during the investigation, the Investigator and Narcotics Agents determined that Bruce had sold the female victim fentanyl that caused her death.
The arrest yesterday of Bruce was due to a separate investigation in relation to a traffic stop on Friendship Road at Friendship Valley Road in which Bruce was observed driving a silver Volkswagen by a Deputy from the Uniform Patrol Bureau. Bruce was driving the vehicle with a suspended license and was charged with Driving under Suspension.
After receiving consent to search the vehicle, the Deputy located a quantity of Methamphetamine inside of the vehicle. The amount seized by the Deputy was approximately 2.4 grams. Bruce was charged with one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.
Bruce was arrested and booked into jail at around 7:06pm Wednesday. Bruce was given a combined $52,100.00 surety bond on charges related to yesterday’s traffic stop. Bruce will have a separate bond hearing on the Involuntary Manslaughter charge.
The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office is continuing its investigation. Further information on the deceased in the drug overdose investigation can be obtained from the Oconee County Coroner’s Office.