Latest news with #MyrtleBeachPolice
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Downtown Myrtle Beach employees say armed teenagers disrupt tourist district
Teenagers and young adults who come to downtown Myrtle Beach to party have become a public safety issue, business owners and employees said. The group will walk up and down the strip while not patronizing businesses, said a beach store owner who we will call Tom. He spoke on the condition of anonymity. The teenagers, who bring their guns, stand in front of his building and block customers while often drinking and smoking cigarettes or marijuana. Tom stated he feared retaliation from city officials if he spoke out against the city leaders. Other store owners declined to be interviewed, citing the same reason. At best, these teens are an annoyance; at worst, they are unpredictable young adults with deadly weapons. On April 26 at about 11:50 p.m., Jerrius Davis, 18, shot four rounds into a group on North Ocean Boulevard near Mr. Fries, a Myrtle Beach Police video shows. In response, officer Brandon O'Rourke shot five rounds, which killed the Bennettsville teenager. In total, 11 people were hurt in the shooting. It's unclear how many injuries were caused by Davis, as at least one person said she was allegedly shot by a Myrtle Beach police officer, The Sun News reported. When The Sun News asked employees if downtown feels safe or dangerous, we got a variety of responses. One gift shop employee said he is from New York City and he has seen much worse, while Tom said people have flashed their guns at him in a threatening manner. 'It's kids with weapons, guns, thinking they can do whatever they want, that they are immune. It has a strong effect on the locals,' Tom said. Downtown employees had different responses on the crime in downtown Myrtle Beach and the city's reaction. Some applauded the local police officers, stating that they respond quickly when the boulevard turns ugly, while others blamed the increase in police presence for a drop in sales. The traffic loop, which shuts down the left-bound lane of North Ocean Boulevard on Friday and Saturday nights, is the most controversial. Gustavo Alonso, who works at a gift shop on North Ocean Boulevard, said closing the lane causes the store to lose customers but he also does not blame police. 'I can't think of something else to do,' Alonso said. Other employees, who declined to give their names, said the increased number of officers may scare away vacationers. There were a few police officers out at 6 p.m., but more appeared as the night went on. Tom and Keko Henry, the manager at Shopicana Resort Wear, said they have been working with police to improve safety. For example, officers advised them to leave their lights on at night to deter people from standing outside the stores after hours. Depending on the night, some stores will close early. Alonso said if it is too rowdy, he will shut down the store. 'During these times, we'd be closing around 12 o'clock, 1 o'clock. But since spring break, we have been closing at like 10 o'clock. 11 o'clock is pushing it,' Tom said. The summer season has not begun, but Tom and Alonso said they have fewer customers than normal, although they do not blame this on the recent shooting. Tom said his sales had been declining prior to the shooting. This is again blamed on the crowds. Alonso said he worries the large crowds of young people may scare away other tourists. Tom and Alonso also blamed their lack of sales on the ban on vapes and drug paraphernalia in downtown Myrtle Beach. They said CBD products and pipes used to be popular items. In an attempt to make the city more family-friendly in 2018, city council voted to ban the sale of these items on Ocean Boulevard from 6th Avenue South to 16th Avenue North, The Sun News reported. In a press conference following the April shooting, Myrtle Beach Mayor Bethune said she does not want cheap motel rooms and sexually explicit T-shirts attracting the wrong kind of person to the city. Tom disagreed with this, stating that inappropriate t-shirts are not the real issue. 'I don't think any business selling a shirt that says 'I heart country boys' or 'Henny-thing can happen' or any of those sorts is affecting what's going on out there,' Tom said. 'What needs to be monitored is kids are walking around drunk with bottles of liquor.'
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Yahoo
4 masked people fire at Myrtle Beach officers in high-speed chase through city
Four people were detained Thursday morning after firing a gun at Myrtle Beach Police officers and leading police on a high-speed chase in a stolen vehicle. Roads closed on Farrow Parkway in Myrtle Beach and the area of 67th Avenue North off of Highway 17 North. An officer on the scene of the accident on 67th Avenue North said that one person was injured in the crash and was taken to the hospital. The people in the vehicle fired at officers on Farrow Parkway in Myrtle Beach, the officer said. The vehicle appears to have been stolen from North Carolina. Myrtle Beach Police officers attempted to approach a vehicle about 8:15 a.m. with four occupants, all who were wearing masks, MBPD Chief Amy Prock said in a Facebook post. When officers attempted to stop the car, the car fled and officers were shot at while in pursuit, Prock added. Prock said in the video that the chase began on South Ocean Boulevard near the Twilight Surf motel. Myrtle Beach Police Department requested assistance from HCPD about 8:30 a.m. May 22 to pursue a suspect driving a stolen vehicle, according to an Horry County Police Facebook post. Prior to HCPD becoming involved in the pursuit, the suspect was seen driving the wrong way in traffic and driving at excessive speeds, the post said. Police vehicles had Farrow Parkway at the Coventry intersection in Market Common blocked off Thursday morning. The county's involvement in the pursuit ultimately ended when the suspect vehicle wrecked near 67th Avenue North and North US Highway 17. No one was injured in the incident and there is no threat to the community, the HCPD Facebook post added. The names of those detained were not released. This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Yahoo
Myrtle Beach Bike Rally attendees are being ticketed. What they are charged with
As bikers ride in for the Myrtle Beach Bike Rally, some have received noise violations. And with the upcoming weekend, which is expected to be the busiest of the rally, motorcyclists should be aware of noise ordinance laws. This also goes for Memorial Day weekend, when the Atlantic Beach Bike Week begins. Myrtle Beach Police have arrested at least two people for noise violations since the beginning of the Myrtle Beach Rally, which goes through Sunday, according to the Myrtle Beach Police event map. One person was arrested at 4:20 p.m. on Saturday and the next at 9:21 p.m., public records show. Both were arrested in downtown Myrtle Beach near North Ocean Boulevard and 9th Avenue North. It's unclear if police apprehended bikers. The Sun News requested the police reports from the incidents. Georgetown County Sheriff's Office issued one ticket for a noise violation since the start of the rally, said department spokesperson Jason Lesley May 14 in an email to The Sun News. Horry County Police do not yet know how many noise ordinance tickets have been issued, said spokesperson Mikayla Moskov in an email May 15 to The Sun News. Myrtle Beach, Horry County and Georgetown County have similar noise ordinance laws. Murrells Inlet, where much of the rally takes place, is split between Horry and Georgetown counties. North Myrtle Beach, where part of Atlantic Bike Week takes place, also has a noise ordinance that prohibits the racing of engines. All municipalities ban the unnecessary honking of horns, loudspeakers and loud exhausts. Horry County and Myrtle Beach specifically ban 'burnouts.' Police consider factors like volume, time of day and if complaints have been made when deciding to write a ticket or arrest a person, Moskov said.
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Yahoo
Officer-involved shooting on Ocean Boulevard deemed ‘justifiable homicide,' police report shows
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WBTW) — A Myrtle Beach police officer's use of deadly force to stop a man from shooting into a large crowd along Ocean Boulevard last month was ruled a 'justifiable homicide' by the agency. The Myrtle Beach Police Department on Friday released incident reports stemming from the April 16 incident at 913 S. Ocean Blvd. that left 18-year-old Jerrius Davis of Bennettsville dead and 11 others injured. 'During the altercation, one of the individuals began firing a weapon. At that time, based on the immediate threat, an officer responded by discharging their firearm,' the incident report states. 'The individual shot during the officer's response has passed away as a result of his injuries.' The report doesn't name which officer fired at Davis. The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division is investigating, as is standard procedure in any officer-involved shooting. The confrontation was at least the 25th instance of gun violence along Ocean Boulevard since 2020, according to a News13 analysis. Officials said days after the shooting that three officers are on paid leave. * * * Adam Benson joined the News13 digital team in January 2024. He is a veteran South Carolina reporter with previous stops at the Greenwood Index-Journal, Post & Courier and The Sun News in Myrtle Beach. Adam is a Boston native and University of Utah graduate. Follow Adam on X, formerly Twitter, at @AdamNewshound12. See more of his work here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Yahoo
Myrtle Beach officials say downtown is safe. Boardwalk employees disagree after shooting
Employees in Myrtle Beach's main tourist hub say they often don't feel safe on Friday and Saturday nights, despite the city saying it's not dangerous. During the day, the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk and North Ocean Boulevard feel safe, said the E-Z Eats Cafe manager Salvador Jacinto. Families mill around, patronizing local businesses like the beach stores and restaurants. But when the sun goes down, the vibe changes. The streets fill with young adults who walk the strip or stand in groups on the sidewalk. 'There are too many people and a lot are young, dumb kids,' Jacinto said. Over the weekend, a shooting left 11 people injured and 18-year-old Jerrius David dead, The Sun News reported. Witness Michael Howard said someone fired a gun, and then a Myrtle Beach Police Officer shot that person. Three officers are on paid administrative leave following the shooting, said Myrtle Beach Police spokesperson Randolph Angotti in a release. 'When large crowds gather and rowdiness occurs, it is understandable that some people may feel uneasy, and that is not unique to Myrtle Beach. While we cannot control individual perceptions of safety, we want to assure everyone that the city remains fully committed to maintaining a safe and welcoming environment for all,' said Myrtle Beach spokesperson Meredith Denari in an email to The Sun News. It's not just 'some people' feeling easy due to the rowdy crowds. For employees like Amy Carr, she says police have advised the business to close early due to activity in downtown Myrtle Beach. Myrtle Beach officials are also still withholding the names of the officers involved in the shooting. Wacky T's manager Melissa Medina said the crowds can cause problems late at night. When something happens, such as a shooting or a fight, people will begin running, causing chaos. As clueless bystanders see people running, they join in, not knowing what is happening. Myrtle Beach Police have attempted to mitigate these issues by shutting down the northbound lane of North Ocean Boulevard from Ninth Avenue North to 16th Avenue North on weekend nights, according to a Facebook post from the agency. The northbound lane is then used only for emergency vehicles. This helps increase officer visibility and allows police to react to concerns faster, the social media post said. 'Proactive policing is at the heart of what the Myrtle Beach Police Department does – which is why officers were able to have such a quick response Saturday night,' Denari said. 'There's all the police present and it's still happening,' Jacinto said, referring to dangerous activity. He's worked along North Ocean Boulevard for nine years. Jacinto said he doesn't know how to describe it, but there's a certain energy in downtown Myrtle Beach on some weekend nights. The bad vibes were felt the night of the April 26 shooting. Carr said downtown Myrtle Beach was very busy Saturday night. She said she saw police officers trying to get crowds to leave Plyler Park at 10:30 p.m. 'I expected something to happen because of how bad it's been,' Carr said. Jacinto said the feeling caused E-Z Eats Cafe to close at 10 p.m. instead of closing between 11 p.m. and midnight like usual on April 26. Other businesses have changed their hours to close earlier, various employees said. Other businesses may make a sporadic decision to close early based on the crowds. For example, Jacinto said E-Z Eats Cafe closed at 10 p.m. In the past, Medina and Carr said police have advised them to close their business early based on the activity along North Ocean Boulevard. Right now, business has slowed down as the spring break season ended and the summer season has not yet began, Carr said. The Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce and Convention and Visitors Bureau Interim President and CEO Tracy Conner offered the following in a Monday afternoon email, 'We understand that incidents like this are concerning. However, Myrtle Beach is a safe and welcoming place for all. Public safety and tourism go hand in hand, and we support ongoing collaboration to ensure both remain strong. While any act of violence is unsettling, we remain confident in the strength of our community and the resilience of the Myrtle Beach brand. Visitor sentiment remains strong, and although Easter shifted travel patterns slightly this year, overall spring visitation has been healthy and we are anticipating a strong summer season. Our visitor services teams are active in the market and available to assist guests with questions or concerns.' Medina, though, said she feels nervous about the upcoming summer. 'I anticipate it to be worse in the summer,' Medina said.
