A Staunton resident was taken into custody Saturday night after deputies with the Augusta County Sheriff's Office responded to reports of a suspicious individual at a Weyers Cave Lawn Party.
According to the sheriff's office, the man had been involved in a verbal dispute with someone else before leaving the event in a red Mercedes-Benz prior to deputies arriving on scene. Deputies later located the vehicle on Weyers Cave Road as it was attempting to enter northbound Interstate 81.
The sheriff's office identified the driver as 26-year-old Antonio Martel Anderson II of Staunton. Authorities said Anderson appeared intoxicated and was uncooperative during the encounter. They also discovered a firearm on the passenger side floorboard of the vehicle.
Anderson was arrested and charged with multiple offenses, including driving with a suspended license, obstruction of justice, driving under the influence with two prior convictions, and carrying a concealed weapon while under the influence.
Augusta County Sheriff Donald Smith addressed rumors that spread following the incident, saying there is no evidence to support claims that Anderson intended to carry out a shooting at the lawn party.