A South Carolina man facing charges for drunk driving and stealing a police vehicle caused a dramatic scene in court, vowing to take his case directly to former President Donald Trump.
Chaotic Courtroom Confrontation
William Waters, 34, appeared before a judge in Spartanburg County on Monday, following his arrest over the weekend. He is charged with grand larceny, failure to stop for blue lights, and driving under the influence. The hearing quickly descended into chaos as Waters repeatedly interrupted the proceedings.
According to reports from WHNS, Waters accused the judge of lying and refused to sign any legal paperwork. "Y'all feed me this garbage, feed lies and put this c**p on TV," he declared from the courtroom. The judge largely ignored the outbursts and set a bond of $20,922, which Waters immediately rejected.
"I don't have no bond," Waters stated, reiterating his refusal to sign the warrants. As he was being escorted out, he made his striking declaration: "I'll contact Donald Trump if I have to."
The Incident and Pursuit
The charges stem from an incident on Saturday night at a QuikTrip gas station in Spartanburg County. Waters allegedly stole a patrol car while apparently experiencing a mental health crisis. He then led sheriff's deputies on a chase across three counties before finally surrendering.
The pursuit resulted in injuries to at least two officers. One deputy was struck by the car door and dragged a short distance when Waters commandeered the vehicle, though he was not seriously hurt. Another officer was airlifted to hospital after a crash during the multi-county chase and is expected to make a full recovery.
Following his arrest, Waters was taken to a hospital for evaluation before being booked into the county jail.
Mental Health Concerns and Family Plea
This was Waters' second court appearance in two days; he was also removed from a hearing on Sunday for similar disruptions. During Monday's hearing, he contested the DUI charge, claiming drug and blood tests had come back negative.
His mother, Cathy, spoke to WHNS about her son's severe mental health struggles. She revealed he has diagnosed schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, has been hospitalised eight times in the past year, and has stopped taking his medication. She expressed frustration that she was not allowed to address the court about his condition during the bond hearing.
"Yes, he did wrong because he's in a full blown mental episode but he needs help. He needs help and he needs medication," she pleaded. Cathy hopes the case highlights the need for better support for individuals with mental health conditions in the justice system.
The judge scheduled Waters' next court appearance for January 22, 2026. While Waters threatened to involve the former president, legal experts consider it highly unlikely such a low-level case would reach Trump. The Daily Mail has approached both the White House and the Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office for comment.
