Deputies respond to St. Helena weapons call

Two men reported being held at knife and gunpoint on St. Helena Island on Tuesday following a dispute over a truck payment.

Deputies responded to a residence on Sea Pines Drive around 7:30 a.m. and found the two men who called them, according to the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office report.

One of them said he had sold a truck to the other man two years ago and made a payment plan with him.

Several months went by with no payment or communication, the seller said. He said he recently saw the truck, now damaged, being driven by the buyer, the report said.

He called the buyer and asked him to return the vehicle.

The seller said the buyer became upset and threatened to kill him, the report said.

The buyer allegedly “stormed” into the seller’s house and threatened the seller and his family.

He then grabbed a rifle sitting on the kitchen table, cocked it, took the safety off and pointed it at the seller’s head, the report said.

When the a friend of the seller, who was also in the home, stood up to help, the buyer picked up a knife that was also in the kitchen and held it to his throat.

A fight ensued between the two until the truck seller called 9-1-1 and the buyer fled.

Deputies were unable to locate the man but obtained three warrants for his arrest on assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature and pointing and presenting a firearm charges, the release said.

This story was originally published March 17, 2016 at 2:52 PM with the headline "Deputies respond to St. Helena weapons call."