A man from South Carolina is in custody after deputies say he pointed an air gun at two elderly people and fired at their dog at a local RV park.
According to an arrest report from the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were called to the Lake Hartwell RV Park around 5:27 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 17. The call involved a man later identified as 64-year-old Jeffrey Alan Wilkinson, who deputies say was pointing an air gun at two elderly individuals. The report states that Wilkinson is the owner of the RV park.
When deputies arrived, they ordered Wilkinson to put his hands up. According to the report, he responded by yelling, “Get off my property!” Deputies said he paced back and forth and briefly raised his hands before lowering them again and reaching into his pockets.
The arrest report notes that Wilkinson claimed he could not hear the deputies’ commands, even after they used a public address system. Deputies also stated that he appeared to be intoxicated at the time.
Additional deputies arrived to assist, and a taser was eventually deployed. Wilkinson was then taken into custody without further incident.
Deputies remained on scene to speak with the two alleged victims. According to the report, one of the victims denied that any disturbance had occurred. The second victim provided a different account.
She told deputies that the incident began after her dog got loose. While she was trying to get the dog to come back, she said Wilkinson went outside and told her that he would kill the dog. According to the report, Wilkinson then dropped to a kneeling position and fired two shots from an air gun at the dog as it ran toward South Highway 11.
After the shots were fired, the woman said she was able to grab her dog and get back inside her camper. She told deputies that Wilkinson continued yelling and said he would get rid of her dog because it was a “nuisance,” according to the arrest report.
Deputies noted that the woman appeared visibly shaken while speaking with them. The report states that she was trembling and appeared to be in fear for her life.
Wilkinson also spoke with deputies at the scene. According to the report, he admitted to having several drinks at Applebee’s earlier that day. He told deputies that he fired the air gun at the dog because he was trying to protect it from running into a nearby main highway.
Deputies seized the air gun, which was described in the report as tan and black.
Wilkinson has been charged with breach of the peace under common law. Law enforcement officials also stated that they are seeking an additional warrant for resisting arrest.
He is currently being held at the Oconee County Detention Center.