According to a report from Summerville Police, released on Friday of last week, a Summerville man was arrested earlier this month after an alleged domestic dispute escalated into an assault, property damage, and a tense foot chase with law enforcement, culminating in officers drawing their weapons when the suspect was found with a knife.

Brian Kirby, 31, faces multiple charges including Battery Family Violence Act, Obstruction of Law Enforcement Officers, Criminal Trespass, and Giving False Date of Birth to Law Enforcement Officers following the incident. He was also found to have an outstanding warrant from Lafayette.

Summerville Police were dispatched to a reported domestic dispute between a male and female. While officers were en route, a second caller informed dispatch that the male had shoved the female to the ground before fleeing the scene on foot, initially described as shirtless and carrying a backpack. Responding officers, joined by units from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office, initiated a search for the suspect, who was seen moving between Bittings Avenue and Ramey Street.  The extensive search concluded on Woodland Avenue, where a man matching the updated description emerged from a wooded area at a dead end. An officer made contact with the individual, later identified as Brian Kirby, and issued lawful orders for him to comply. Kirby initially resisted these commands.

A Chattooga County Deputy arrived on scene with his weapon drawn,  as officers observed Kirby attempting to conceal a medium-sized knife in his right hand behind his leg. Both officers then drew their department-issued firearms, repeatedly ordering Kirby to drop the weapon. After multiple commands, Kirby complied, dropping the knife and eventually moving across a ditch to the officers’ location. He continued to resist orders to sit down until officers and deputies placed him in handcuffs.

During identification, Kirby provided a false date of birth. E-911 was able to locate his correct information, confirming his identity as Brian Kirby, and revealing an active warrant for his arrest from Lafayette.

After Kirby was apprehended and transported to the Chattooga County Jail, an officer returned to the Golden Package Liquor Store to speak with the victim. The victim recounted that Kirby had asked her for a ride to Lafayette to see his children, promising no arguments. However, an argument ensued in the car, during which the victim stated Kirby pulled the emergency brake while the vehicle was still in motion in front of the Dollar General store at the intersection of Commerce Street and Kelly Street. The victim stated she then parked at the Golden Package Store, where Kirby reportedly chased her, demanding her car keys and pushing her to the ground. This action caused several scratches to her right arm and right foot, for which photos were taken by law enforcement.

The victim further alleged that after retrieving the keys, Kirby entered the driver’s seat of her vehicle and began damaging the ignition slot, rendering the car inoperable. She provided a video recorded on her phone, which reportedly shows Kirby in the driver’s seat appearing to cause damage in the ignition area. When confronted about the damage, Reed stated Kirby began chasing her again, before fleeing the area, leading to the foot chase that ended on Woodland Avenue.

Kirby was transported to the Chattooga County Jail without further incident. While he eventually admitted to only a verbal domestic dispute, his statement contradicted the victim’s detailed account of physical assault and property damage.