Crime & Safety
Pickens County, SC Standoff Ends After 2.5-Hour Negotiation
Liberty, SC – A wanted man was taken into custody after a more than two hour standoff at a home on Rices Creek Road in Liberty, Pickens County, near the Greenville area, authorities said.
By Avery Collins · 2026-09-29T13:12:43.613Z
Liberty, SC – A wanted man was taken into custody after a more than two hour standoff at a home on Rices Creek Road in Liberty, Pickens County, near the Greenville area, authorities said.
According to the Pickens County Sheriff ’s Office, deputies with its Directed Patrol Unit received information that Robert Vernon George, who was being sought on eight General Sessions bench warrants, was hiding at the home on Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026.
Deputies surrounded the residence, where George allegedly barricaded himself inside and threatened to have a shootout with law enforcement, according to the sheriff’s office. Authorities said he refused to come outside as deputies began negotiations.
The negotiations continued for more than two and a half hours before George eventually exited the home and surrendered without further incident, the sheriff’s office said. He was booked into the Pickens County Detention Center and was being held without bond.
Authorities said the outstanding warrants included allegations involving third offense methamphetamine trafficking, trafficking between 100 and 200 grams of methamphetamine, second offense possession of a controlled substance and first offense driving under the influence.
Other warrants listed by the sheriff’s office involved driving under suspension, habitual traffic offender status, no insurance and a seat belt violation.
Following the standoff, George also allegedly faces charges of unlawful possession of a sawed off shotgun, first offense resisting arrest with a deadly weapon and receiving stolen goods valued at less than $2,000.
The Pickens County Sheriff’s Office thanked members of the U.S. Marshals Service for assisting with the investigation and credited deputies with bringing the incident to a safe conclusion.
The allegations are charges only. George is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.