A Pickens County man is behind bars after authorities say he tried to run down multiple law enforcement officers with a stolen vehicle during a chase that began in Easley and crossed into Pickens County just over a week ago. Tracy Bryan Shirah Jr. now faces seven charges, including two counts of resisting arrest with a deadly weapon, and is being held at the Pickens County Detention Center on a bond exceeding $90,000.
Per Fox Carolina, Easley police officers first identified the stolen vehicle in their jurisdiction, touching off a pursuit that crossed into Pickens County before deputies and Easley officers deployed stop sticks to bring it to a halt. Officials said Shirah tried to hit multiple officers with the vehicle during the pursuit.
Seven Charges, Bond Set at Just Over $94,000
The Pickens County Sheriff's Office said Shirah was ultimately charged with driving under suspension tied to a second DUI-related offense, along with two counts of resisting arrest with a deadly weapon and habitual traffic offender. He also faces charges of hit and run involving fixtures on or adjacent to a highway, possession of a stolen vehicle, and failure to stop for a blue light.
Pickens County Magistrate Chuck James set individual bonds across the seven counts totaling $94,002.50, according to WSNW Radio. The Pickens County Sheriff's Office, however, told Fox Carolina that Shirah's total bond topped $99,000, a discrepancy that remains unresolved between the two accounts.
An Easley Detainer and a Decade-Old Prior Arrest
Jail records reviewed by the station show Shirah is also being held on a detainer from the Easley Police Department, where the pursuit originated.
This isn't Shirah's first arrest in the area. Public police records reviewed by Patch show he was previously arrested in Easley in September 2012 on charges of driving under the influence and interference with police officers.
Felony Exposure Could Mean Years Behind Bars
Resisting arrest with a deadly weapon is a Class E felony under South Carolina Code § 16-3-625, carrying up to 10 years in prison for each count, according to MLB Law. South Carolina designates a driver a habitual traffic offender under Code § 56-1-1020 after 10 or more traffic convictions carrying four or more points, or three or more specified serious convictions, triggering a mandatory five-year license revocation, per Kent Collins Law Firm. Driving while classified as a habitual offender is itself a separate felony under Code § 56-1-1100, punishable by up to five years, the firm notes.
Failing to stop for a blue light is generally a misdemeanor but becomes a felony, carrying up to five years, for a second or subsequent offense, according to T. Kirk Truslow, P.A. Route-restricted-license rules are described in the available materials.
Part of a Broader Upstate Pursuit Pattern
The case involved a high-speed pursuit in Upstate South Carolina. Flock Safety cameras have been used to find a stolen car. A similar pursuit in neighboring Spartanburg County ended in a crash.
What Investigators Haven't Said
Investigators have not said where the stolen vehicle was originally taken from or whether any officers or bystanders were hurt when stop sticks brought the pursuit to an end. It's also unclear when Shirah's preliminary hearing will be scheduled in Pickens County Magistrate Court.
