An Aiken County deputy made a clean shot in May when he killed an unarmed biker after a lengthy chase across two states, Solicitor Bill Weeks said this week.
Deputy Christopher Owens will be cleared in the May 21 shooting death of 58-year-old Arthur C. Page II after the county’s chief prosecutor reviewed the findings of a South Carolina Law Enforcement Division investigation.
Page was fatally shot sometime around midnight May 21 after wrecking his Harley-Davidson along Interstate 20, running away from the motorcycle, falling down and then turning over and holding something that resembled a weapon, authorities said.
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Weeks said there is multiple videos of Page turning and holding out his right arm with something that flashed. Deputies screamed “get your hands down” a few times before Owens fired as the officers ran for cover.
“The officer thought it was a gun and discharged his firearm 10 times, hitting him at least five times,” Weeks said Thursday. “After they determined he was no longer a threat, they went up to him and determined he had a black cell phone in his right hand.”
The shooting led to some outrage among local residents, including one woman who said she didn’t understand why police shoot first and ask questions later.
“If that man didn’t brandish or fire a weapon, there was no need for deadly force,” the woman said online in May. “He should be charged. This has to stop.”
On the tribute wall of Page’s obituary, his older brother Bill Page said this: “He didn’t have to be gunned down by the police. He never owned a gun or carried a pocket knife.”
While Weeks said he hasn’t made an official ruling, he will be deciding in favor of law enforcement after the State Law Enforcement Division completed its investigation.
“For part of chase, he was dragging a saddle bag, and they found some meth pipes at the scene,” Weeks said. “I don’t know whether he was high at the time, but he certainly postured himself improperly and officers acted accordingly.”
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The death followed a chase that started on East Pine Log Road and went down Whiskey Road toward New Ellenton. The pursuit continued toward Beech Island on U.S. Highway 278 to Interstate 520, into Georgia and onto Interstate 20 East in South Carolina.
The pursuit ended when the rider slowed and veered towards the shoulder of the Interstate, causing him to lose control of the motorcycle in the grass.
Page, who went by “Deuce,” was married and was remembered in an obituary as someone who enjoyed riding his Harley, woodworking and being a prankster. He had gone to jail multiple times in Richmond and Columbia counties for driving under suspension and other traffic offenses. In Aiken County, he had a history from two decades ago for DUI offenses.
For his part, Owens has been with the Aiken County Sheriff’s Office since February 2021. He was placed on paid administrative leave after the shooting.
The Solicitor said the death really shook up the officers.
“It’s a tragedy,” he said.
Greg Rickabaugh is the Jail Report contributor for The Augusta Press. Reach him at greg.rickabaugh@theaugustapress.com
