Fugitive from North Carolina apprehended near Seneca

This afternoon announcement by Oconee Sheriff’s Office:

“A wanted fugitive from the state of North Carolina
was arrested early this morning, near Seneca, after Oconee County Sheriff’s Office deputies
were dispatched to a person with a weapon call, and the Sheriff’s Office S.W.A.T. team was
activated.
53 year old Kenneth Wayne Edwards, of Snow Creek Road, was arrested and charged by
deputies with one count of Breach of Peace – Aggravated in Nature. Edwards was booked into
the Oconee County Detention Center around 5:00am today. Edwards remains in jail, at this time,
pending a bond hearing.
A hold has also been placed on Edwards by the Swain County (NC) Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies from the Uniform Patrol Bureau were dispatched to the Snow Creek Road address,
around 7:52pm last night, due to reports of a person with a weapon call. Upon arriving on scene,
deputies discovered that Edwards had barricaded himself inside of the residence.
Deputies spoke with two bail bondsman, who stated that they arrived at the residence to take
Edwards into custody due to Edwards having multiple arrest warrants from North Carolina and
for missing court as well.
According to information obtained during the investigation, Edwards went inside of the
residence when the bail bondsman arrived on scene. When the bail bondsman got to a door of
the residence, Edwards reportedly had a pistol in his hand and pulled the trigger, but the gun did
not discharge.
The bail bondsman reportedly then fled behind their vehicles after Edwards reached behind him
near a wall. Edwards then made threats to harm the bail bondsman.
Additional deputies arrived on scene. Also, a deputy made contact with Edwards in attempts to
bring a peaceful resolution to the situation.
The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office S.W.A.T. team was activated around 10pm yesterday
evening and deputies assigned to the S.W.A.T. assembled at a nearby location on Snow Creek
Road.
Edwards was eventually taken into custody, without incident, around 12:23am this morning.
Edwards was then transported to the Oconee County Detention Center.”