Horry County Crime Report 1999 Volume 2

These are taken from the police blotter, which is sporadically published by Myrtle Beach Access. These crimes were reported in Horry County, South Carolina. Some of the more interesting I've marked in red.

Burglary: A 35-year-old woman reported an unknown culprit somehow forced his or her way into her father's office on Seventh Avenue and stole his shotgun and fiddle. The shotgun was worth $1,500, while the gun was worth $150.

Malicious damage: A 36-year-old man said an 18-year-old male acquaintance came to his home on Harrelson Avenue. The teen-ager wanted to know what was going on with his mother and the man. The complainant said he told the teen-ager that it was none of his business. The complainant said the teen-ager hit him in the mouth with his fist. When the complainant closed the door of his home, he said the teen-ager then threw a brick and damaged his door. The damage was estimated at $100.

Verbal threats: A 39-year-old woman was having drinks at the Candlelight II. A 40-year-old man said if she came home he would kill her. He told her he would put her belongings in a plastic bag and place them in a Dumpster.

Verbal threats: A woman and her two cousins were at a store. An employee approached one of the women and asked for her backpack. He said it had to stay behind the counter while they shopped. She asked if there was a sign in the store. He said he was the sign and that's all he needed. She told the 48-year-old employee he was rude and called him a name. He followed the women outside and told one of them he'd punch her in the face.

Disorderly conduct, indecent exposure: A motel owner was in the pool area and saw a couple having sex on a balcony at the Sea Horn Motel. They were evicted. The incident happened shortly after midnight.

Indecent exposure: A woman was talking on a pay phone on North Ocean Boulevard. A man approached her and began fondling himself while staring at her. He wore a red shirt, white shorts and had medium length curly hair and a scruffy beard.

Elderly neglect: A car was spotted at Derriere's Gentlemen's Club for several nights. Police found a 69-year-old man lying in the back seat with the windows down. The man, who has Alzheimer's disease, was soaked with sweat. The man's 30-year-old son told police that while his wife danced in the club, he left his dad in the vehicle. Police told the son not to do this anymore. The man, his wife and his father left.

Disorderly conduct: A woman was asleep at a Swallow Avenue residence. She heard a man scream in her bedroom window and went to the living room. She saw her daughter there and asked her what happened. The daughter said she was talking to the woman's husband outside when he asked if she wanted to see her mother freak out. The daughter then heard the scream. The man was arrested on unrelated charges.

Simple assault and battery: Police responded to a nightclub at 98 N. Ocean Blvd. at about 2:15 a.m. concerning a disturbance. It was alleged that a lounge employee was pushed into a mounted television set and received a head laceration. The victim pointed out the suspect to police, who promptly arrested him and took him to jail. The victim was treated at the scene.

Public disorderly conduct: Police were called to a lounge at 98 N. Ocean Blvd. concerning a disorderly employee. It was reported that the subject was fired from his job for drinking while on duty. It was also reported that he pulled a knife on the manager who fired him. Management didn't want to pursue criminal prosecution regarding the knife. When police asked the subject to leave the premises, he refused and became irate. He was arrested and taken to jail.

Aug. 19
Minor in possession of alcohol: Two 16-year-old boys were arrested after a police officer found a box of beer near the truck they were in. The teen-agers bypassed a road check stop and drove between a building and a football field. When the police officer saw them make the detour, he followed them and found them ``hiding behind'' the building in the truck. The police officer then smelled a strong odor of alcohol. The boys told the police officer they didn't have any more beer. The incident occurred on S.C. 24.

Attempted assault and battery, high and aggravated nature: A man was thrown out of several businesses at Celebrity Square, including Fat Tuesday's. He returned to Fat Tuesday's, where he put what appeared to be a gun to a woman's head and demanded another drink. A man grabbed the weapon and wrestled it away from the suspect, who then fled. The weapon turned out to be an air-propelled nail gun.

Larceny: An unknown culprit stole a $79 tire from a business on Main Street.

Domestic dispute: A man brought home food and told his 15-year-old son to eat at the table. The boy took the food to his bedroom. The father took the food and the boy's drink away and told him he couldn't eat until he followed the house rules. The boy left and his dad chased him. The boy took off his shoes because he had blisters and ran around barefoot. He hid from his father. The boy's mother later took him to the hospital for treatment for the blisters.

Simple assault and battery: A boy said a man jumped from the bushes and pinched his face at the corner of 10th Avenue South and Ocean Boulevard. The boy required stitches.

Shoplifting: A 42-year-old man was arrested after police said he stole packages of sliced turkey and cheese and put them in the crotch area of his pants. The incident happened at Winn-Dixie on North Kings Highway. The manager chased the man when he left the store and police caught him. The turkey and cheese were valued at $8.

Domestic dispute: A 60-year-old woman said her 37-year-old son got mad because she held money from his check. She said if she didn't do this he would ``drink it away.'' She said she came home from a funeral to find him drunk on the couch. He yelled at her because he wanted to go to the bars. She said he could have the money but couldn't stay at her house. She said he was an alcoholic.

Near drowning: A 7-year-old girl pulled her sister from the shallow end of a pool at the Holiday Inn on South Ocean Boulevard. The victim's eyes were rolled in the back of her head, and her lips were blue. She was taken to Grand Strand Regional Medical Center. It is unknown how long she was in the water.

Possession of crack cocaine, possession of drug paraphernalia and failure to
pay cab fare: Police responded to a call at a convenience store at 2609 U.S. 17 S. concerning a black female refusing to pay a taxi cab fare. She hid something under the seat when police told her to exit the cab. Police found a crack pipe and small bag of crack cocaine and the woman was arrested. Three additional crack cocaine rocks were found and tested positive for cocaine.

Public disorderly conduct and littering: Police observed a suspicious black male dancing and talking to himself at a convenience store at 2101 US 17 S. He ignored the officers' instructions to stop. Police observed him throw something into the bushes. He was apprehended and a homemade crack pipe was found near a piece of shrubbery. The intoxicated subject was arrested and taken to jail. The crack pipe was placed in evidence.

Malicious damage to personal property: A 25-year-old man said his ex-girlfriend was removing their daughter from his Jaguar at a Willow Drive residence. He said she got angry and she pushed the door against the hinge. This caused the door to warp and the paint to scar. She continued to do this while he was backing out.

Simple assault: A 39-year-old man said his 30-year-old roommate came in his bedroom and beat him in the top of the head. He said his roommate grabbed his face and threw him in the doorway. He said his right knee was twisted. He went to the doctor who said he suffered torn ligaments in his right leg. The incident happened on South Dogwood Drive.

Domestic dispute: A 31-year-old man said his ex-girlfriend was causing problems. When police arrived at his Third Avenue South residence, the woman was screaming, ``Help me,'' and crying uncontrollably. The 28-year-old woman was wearing a semi-transparent white nightgown and was complaining about her neck. She and her ex-boyfriend were perspiring. The man said the woman learned he had slept with her sister. She came over with a metal baton and phoned him yelling, ``Can you hear this?'' as she banged on the rear of his vehicle. Police went in the house and found it in disarray. The man said she attacked him with a pair of scissors. He tried to control her with a headlock. An ambulance took the woman to the hospital. She had redness and swelling in her ear and neck area. She was hysterical and hyperventilating. She had told her ex-boyfriend about an envelope addressed to ``Bernie'' with a condom inside. The envelope was found in a car and taken into evidence with the baton and scissors.

Sept. 7
Assault: A 30-year-old employee at a convenience store on US 501 said she was taking the trash out of the Dumpster when an unknown man grabbed her by her left arm. The woman said she kicked and hit the man before breaking free, tearing her shirt in the process.She ran into the store and locked the door. The woman said the man then left and went in an unknown direction.

Sept. 1
Assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature: A 47-year-old man said a 23-year-old male acquaintance struck him from behind with a pool stick after a disagreement over the pool table. The complainant said he told the man he could have the game and stepped away to the bar. The complainant said he overhead the man say that ``he was sick of [his] mouth.'' The complainant said the next thing he knew was he was hit with the pool stick and fell to the floor. The complainant said he couldn't move his legs or arms. When a police officer arrived, the complainant was still on the floor, but the 23-year-old man was gone. The complainant was taken to the emergency room at Loris Community Hospital. Warrants are pending.

Reckless driving: A 21-year-old woman was arrested after a police officer caught her speeding and almost hitting a police vehicle in the rear. The woman also crossed over Broad Street toward Elm Street, where she hit her right rear tire against the sidewalk. The tire blew out. She then stopped at a grocery store on Broad Street where she was arrested. An open container of Coors Light beer was found in the car, and the woman was also charged with the violation of the open container law. A 25-year-old man, apparently a passenger in the woman's car, was charged and arrested for public drunkenness.

Sept. 5
Stolen motorcycle: Someone took a $1,500 motorcycle from behind a home in the 900 block of Whitten Street in Georgetown. The motorcycle was taken between 10 a.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. Sunday. An investigation continues.

Sept. 6
Suspicious circumstances: A 32-year-old man was at Gilley's and ordered a lime drink for his young daughter. When his daughter tried the drink, she said it tasted funny. Her father drank it and said it tasted like alcohol. The father told the manager who asked the bartender to make another drink. The bartender said nothing was in the drink but lime juice. The father was still upset even though he was told no alcohol was in the drink.

Sept. 5
Shoplifting: sA 32-year-old man was arrested at Food Lion on US 501 after police said he concealed a package of beef stir fry in the waistband of his pants. When he was taken into custody, a lime was found in his pants pocket. The lime also belonged to Food Lion. The man was also charged with public intoxication.

Vandalism: The owner of Bargain Beachwear smelled smoke and saw two children's outfits on fire hanging from the rack. He threw them on the floor, extinguished the fire with water and then kicked the clothes outside. It appeared the clothing was set on fire by a lighter. Damage to the carpet was $100. Damage to the clothes was $15.

Sept. 4
Shoplifting: A 24-year-old man grabbed a bag of beef jerky at Food Lion on US 501. He ate a couple of pieces, put the bag under a package of steaks and then tried to leave. He was arrested.

Public nudity: Police responded to Second Avenue South in the early morning hours concerning 20 to 25 people swimming nude in the ocean. Police could verify one nude swimmer. He was taken to jail without incident. Later, at 4 a.m., police responded back to the same location because of complaints about people swimming nude. Police arrested two male and two female subjects for public nudity.

Sept. 3
Fugitive and simple possession of marijuana: At about 1:50 a.m. police were dispatched to a residence in the 3600 block of Dunes Street concerning a domestic situation. A white male tried to elude police and hide marijuana inside a couch in the living room. The suspect was arrested and taken to jail. Police found the subject was wanted in Ohio and was arrested as a fugitive. Ohio authorities indicated they would extradite the fugitive.

Sept. 3
Driving under the influence: An officer saw a black Corvette going a high rate of speed in the Surfside Drive and Poplar Drive area. The officer stopped the car driven by a 33-year-old woman. She was `shabby looking'' and her hair was messy. She smelled like alcohol and slurred her words. She also used her car for support. When questioned, she told the officer she had had several drinks.She was arrested.

Breaking and entering auto:
Someone opened a 37-year-old man's unlocked car door and took a black bag. The bag contained 100 pain pills and 50 muscle relaxer pills, a Walkman CD player and one CD.

Harassment/intimidation:
A 29-year-old man said two men in a Mitsubishi truck rode by his residence four times and stared at him. He said they may be acquaintances of a man who was caught in Virginia with his stolen truck.

AYNOR
Oct. 4
Larceny: An unknown culprit pumped $10 worth of gas from a convenience store on US 501 and left without paying for it.

Oct. 3
Larceny: An unknown culprit drove away from a gas station on US 501 without paying for $8 worth of gas.

Burglary: An unknown culprit stole $2 from a church on Main Street. The culprit also vandalized two of the church's safes, causing $200 worth of damage. The female complainant said there apparently was no forced entry.

Suspicious activity: A 39-year-old man said he and his wife left their balcony door open at the Golden Sands Motel before they went to bed. The man awoke and saw a man's shadow on the balcony. He yelled, ``Get out of here.'' The man on the balcony said, ``I ain't going to hurt you, man. I'm hiding from the police.'' The motel room occupant yelled again, and the man jumped off the balcony and left.

Simple assault and battery: A 21-year-old man and 23-year-old woman were at Club Millennium 2000. Another man approached the woman, and the first man said she was his girlfriend. The 21-year-old was attacked by the suspect and his friend. The woman was hurt when she tried to help her boyfriend, who suffered a broken jaw and broken tooth. The woman had a chipped tooth and swollen eye.

Fire: A 75-year-old man said his smoke detector at his Timberline Street residence went off. He found his thermostat on fire and tried to put it out with paper towels. He burned his right hand and wrist. He put out the fire with a fire extinguisher. Damage to the thermostat was $100.

Possession of crack cocaine and drug paraphernalia: About 9:45 p.m., police were dispatched to 2701 S.Ocean Blvd. concerning a female subject refusing to pay her cab fare. The subject claimed she lost her money and voluntarily opened her pocketbook to police. In plain view, police observed drug paraphernalia and a bottle with two rocks of crack cocaine in it. The suspect was arrested and taken to jail.

Public disorderly conduct/intoxication: About 3:45 a.m., police discovered a male subject passed out in a ditch behind a lounge at 4708 US 17 S. The subject was very disoriented and grossly intoxicated. The subject was arrested for intoxication. During transport, the subject couldn't understand why he was being arrested. He thought he was in his own house. He was placed in jail.

Burglary: Someone broke into a woman's home on Palmetto Drive while she was asleep and took cash and food. The woman said the break-in occurred between 11 p.m. Saturday and 2:45 a.m. Sunday. The burglar took $80 from her wallet, a bag of chips and a steak knife.

Damage to property: A man who apparently became angry after losing while playing a video gaming machine punched the glass face of the machine and smashed it. The machine was damaged at a restaurant on Ocean Boulevard. The man left the business without reporting the damage.

Indecent exposure: A teen-age girl said a man exposed himself to her on Cedar Drive while she was walking to her school bus stop. The girl said the man had followed her before.

CONWAY
Oct. 31
Obtaining goods by false pretense: The manager of Pizza Hut said four people ordered two medium Meat Lover's pan pizzas and four soft drinks. They left without paying for the food and drinks. The manager jumped in her vehicle and chased the people. They stopped at a red light, and she approached the vehicle. She told them she had their license plate number and would call the police if they didn't come to Pizza Hut. They returned to Pizza Hut and were held until an officer arrived. One of them told police that he didn't know the other three were planning to do this. But the other three said they had discussed the plan. The suspects were taken into custody.

Stolen computer files: A Georgetown doctor said one of his former employees and another doctor went into his office while he was away at class and downloaded files from his computer.

Oct. 28
Stolen furniture: Someone took furniture and decorations from five mobile homes at Five Rivers Housing at 3010 Highmarket St. The thefts occurred between 3 p.m. Oct. 28 and 9 a.m. Oct. 29. The items were worth about $15,000.

Oct. 30
Simple assault and battery: A 46-year-old man said another man crushed a beer can in his hand and hit him in the head at Daddy D's on Third Avenue South.

Oct. 29
Disorderly conduct: Police found a 35-year-old woman asleep in the lobby of Grand Strand Regional Medical Center. After several attempts, they woke her up and she said she was waiting on a ride to North Carolina. She was arrested after police learned she was drunk.

Oct. 31
Shoplifting, public disorderly conduct/intoxication: A police officer saw a man walk in front of his patrol car, stop and lie down. The officer confronted the man, who was drunk. In his possession were two sandwiches that he admitted stealing from a nearby convenience store at the corner of Sea Mountain Highway and Duffy Street. The man was arrested and taken to jail.

Nov. 3
Shoplifting: A 20-year-old man was arrested after stealing bologna and cigars. The man had walked into the police station and told a police officer he had just stolen from a local grocery store on Broad Street. He told police he ate the bologna before he walked into the police station.

Nov. 3
Shoplifting: Someone stole $40 worth of cough syrup from a store on Broad Street.

MYRTLE BEACH
Nov. 4
Domestic violence: A 45-year-old woman and her 18-year-old son argued about stereo speakers. The woman had placed the stereo speakers outside a 35th Avenue North residence. She said her son pushed her, causing the speakers to fall and one of them to break. She said he picked up a speaker and threw it at her, missing her and hitting the car.

Simple assault and battery: A 41-year-old man said a 32-year-old man invited him to his residence, where they drank beer before the younger man grabbed the older man's crotch. The older man tried to leave, and the younger man sucker punched him in the face. The older man passed out. The younger man denied hitting the older man, who he said ``went berserk.'' He said he told him to leave. Police said the older man was drunk.

Nov. 3
Domestic dispute: A 30-year-old woman and her 30-year-old husband attended Taste of the Town at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center. While there, they argued about a man they saw there. She said her husband pushed her out of his 2000 BMW while it was traveling between 12 and 15 mph. The couple has been married a month and lived together a week.

Injured person: A 25-year-old woman was at Broadway Louie's drinking Rolling Rock. A piece of glass about a quarter-inch long broke off the bottle, and she swallowed the glass. She was taken to Grand Strand Regional Medical Center. Police were unable to talk to the woman because of an ``uncooperative nurse.''

Nov. 2
Harassment, suspicious circumstances: A 41-year-old man said a 28-year-old man knocked on his door at his 11th Avenue North residence. The two were not on good terms because of an assault that occurred in Wrightsville Beach, N.C. The older man said the younger man beat him, tied his hands and knocked his front tooth loose. He said the younger man made him sign a statement that he raped the younger man's girlfriend while they were in Ohio.

Nov. 1
Fighting: A 35-year-old woman and her 36-year-old female roommate had been involved in a sexual relationship. They fought and argued because the younger woman accused the older woman of being involved with another person.

NORTH MYRTLE BEACH
Nov. 7
Noise complaint at construction site: About 7:30 a.m., a resident from the area of 38th Avenue South and Dunes Street in the Windy Hill section told police excessive noise from a jackhammer at the construction site at 3900 S. Ocean Blvd. disturbed the neighborhood. Police spoke with representatives from RJ Griffith Construction Co. and told them about the complaint. Police explained to the company that even though construction was allowed between the hours of 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. daily, it would be inconsiderate to the neighborhood for loud jackhammers to be used early Sunday morning. The job superintendent agreed, and no citations were issued.

CONWAY
Nov.19
School property damage: Someone removed a reserved parking sign from the front of Beck Middle School on Church Street, causing $50 damage.

Nov. 16
Threats: Police are investigating a report that a 13-year-old Beck Middle School male student threatened to kill a 12- year-old girl. The girl said she has had ongoing problems with the boy. Both students were disciplined in school.

MYRTLE BEACH
Nov. 22
Shoplifting: A 33-year-old man was arrested after he put a bottle of Turning Leaf California chardonnay wine in his pants at Food Lion on US 501. He didn't pay for it. During a search, a 16-inch knife was found in his possession. The man was drunk.

Nov. 21
Shoplifting: A woman put a Santa ornament in her purse at the Christmas Mouse on South Kings Highway and left without paying for it.

NORTH MYRTLE BEACH
Nov. 21
Cultivation of marijuana, simple possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia: About 8 p.m., police initiated a search warrant for illegal drugs in a shed at 1618-B Perrin Drive in the Crescent Beach section. Inside the shed, four marijuana plants were found. Police were given consent to search the residence and smelled marijuana. Police found 5.2 grams of marijuana and drug-related paraphernalia. The contraband was photographed and seized. One person was arrested.

SURFSIDE BEACH
Nov. 16
Lewd act on a child: A Surfside Beach man has been arrested on charges he fondled a child. The man was arrested last week and charged with lewd act on a child under 16 years old. He was released from J. Reuben Long Detention Center on Nov. 17, according to officials.The charge stems from an alleged incident in 1998, police said.

Nov. 12
Trespassing: A 36-year-old woman said another woman, who appeared to be in her 30s, came to her home on Seventh Avenue and began yelling at her children through the doors. The 36-year-old woman said the other woman demanded that her children tell her to come to the door. She said the woman has done the same thing several times in the past.

Nov. 2
Lewd act: A 48-year-old woman said a 15-year-old boy pulled down his pants and grabbed his genitals while she was on Bud Graham Road.

MYRTLE BEACH
Nov. 15
Simple assault and battery: A 50-year-old man and his 48-year-old girlfriend argued at a North Ocean Boulevard motel. He said she yelled at him about previous incidents. He said she attacked him with her crutches. He suffered cuts near both eyes and cheeks. The man and woman were drunk. He was arrested.

Nov. 13
Child neglect and simple possession of marijuana: About 11:30 a.m., police responded to a trespassing complaint at 2611 Tidewater Drive. Upon arrival on the scene, the officer found four girls crying outside the residence. Tidewater Security said contractors were installing new sprinkler heads at the residence. Police entered the residence to investigate the complaint. Officers found the residence was filthy and in disarray. Animal feces were on the kitchen counter, and cat urine was on the carpet. Garbage and food were scattered about the house. Pornography was found in the kitchen. Marijuana and a pipe were found in plain view in the bedroom area. At the time of the incident, the parents were not at home and reportedly were at work. Officers took the children into emergency protective custody, and the Department of Social Services was notified. The incident is under investigation by a North Myrtle Beach Child-Elderly Abuse investigator and DSS. The parents were arrested later and charged with child neglect.

Nov. 12
Animal violations, disregarding a lawful order and littering: About 4 p.m., police responded to Creekside Subdivision about a dog reportedly harassing children. After an investigation, the dog's owner was cited for animal violations. The suspect also was warned about allowing the dog to intimidate children and going near the victim's residence with the animal. The North Myrtle Beach Animal Control Division had warned the suspect on numerous occasions concerning the dog. Police were later called back to the location concerning the dog. The suspect was arrested. The owner was cited for littering because garbage was scattered all over the area. Fish heads were mixed in the garbage, causing an odor. The suspect was transported to jail.

Nov. 12
Assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature and public disorderly conduct: About 7:30 p.m., police responded to a disturbance at 1610 S. Ocean Blvd. The victim was covered in blood and suffered head lacerations. The victim was intoxicated and uncooperative. As police investigated, one of the drunk suspects admitted he hit the victim over the head with a furniture leg because the victim had choked him. The suspect was arrested.