New details were released Monday concerning a weekend shooting that left a motorcyclist dead and an Aiken County deputy under investigation.
Around 12:43 a.m. May 21, Deputy Christopher Owens initiated a traffic stop with a man on a Harley Davidson motorcycle. Owens signaled the motorcyclist with his overhead blue lights on East Pine Long near Trail Wood Avenue, according to reports from the sheriff’s office.
Arthur Page II, the motorcyclist, never stopped. Instead, he accelerated away from Owens, who pursued the motorcyclist down Whiskey Road towards New Ellenton. The chase continued toward Beech Island on U.S. Hwy. 278, to Interstate 520 and onto Interstate 20 East, a report said.
“At the end of the vehicle pursuit, the rider, identified as Arthur Page II, slowed and veered towards the shoulder of the Interstate causing him to lose control of his motorcycle in the grass. Page made attempts to run away from the motorcycle at which point he fell, turned over appearing to be armed with a weapon. Shots were fired during this confrontation by the pursing deputy. After aid was render to Page, it was confirmed that what he pointed at the deputy was not a firearm,” a news release said.
Owens has been with the Aiken County Sheriff’s Office since February 2021 and is on paid administrative leave.
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division is conducting an investigation.
”The facts of this case are being vetted and investigated by SLED which included the actions of our deputy and that of the decedent. We are fully cooperating and working on gathering all evidence that will to be turned over to SLED. As this case progresses, we are referring all questions about this independent and impartial investigation to SLED, “ said Sheriff Mike Hunt.
