A North Augusta man surrendered early April 21 after his brother’s girlfriend was safely released, and he was shot by law enforcement.
The entire ordeal with Nathaniel “Nate” Meade took place along Jefferson Davis Highway near I-520 while he broadcast live on Facebook. Video streams showed him driving around with a gun on his female hostage and separately after he was shot and bleeding from the leg, although he claimed he was shot in the chest.
Aiken County Sheriff’s Capt. Eric Abdullah confirmed Thursday morning that Meade had been taken into custody and the hostage was safe. The incident started April 20 when Meade’s brother’s girlfriend picked him up. He took her hostage and forced her to drive him around at gunpoint, even as cops became aware of the situation and tried to stop him.
The suspect was shot at least five times after exchanging gunfire with cops. He was treated at Augusta University Medical Center and then moved to the Richmond County Jail pending extradition. SLED is investigating along with the Sheriff’s Office and local public safety officers.
On Wednesday night, the sheriff’s office took to the Aiken County Sheriff’s Office app to warn motorists that traffic was blocked on U.S. Highway 1 “due to an incident that law enforcement is dealing with.”
“See alternate route. Traffic will be delayed in this area,” the online alert said.
Meanwhile, Meade was on his private Facebook page, talking back and forth with friends and family who were begging him to surrender. Meade claimed he was “set up” by people, who he named, and complained that he didn’t want to go to prison and be alone.
Meade was arrested Feb. 11 for meth trafficking and released on bond four days later. That arrest happened after a December arrest for drugs and receiving stolen goods.
The 42-year-old suspect has a long criminal past with previous charges for drugs, domestic violence, child cruelty, providing false info, assault, criminal sexual conduct with a minor, receiving stolen goods and more. Some of those charges were dismissed, including the criminal sexual contact with a minor.
He has a listed address on Spring Oak Lane.
Greg Rickabaugh is the Jail Report contributor for The Augusta Press. Reach him at greg.rickabaugh@theaugustapress.com
