Monday, July 3
DRUG PUSHER
A 57-year-old man walked into Folly Beach Public Safety Headquarters around noon to report a case of Harassment. The complainant said he was approached by a 56-year-old Folly Beach “homeless man” on Center Street a few days before. The subject offered the complainant drugs, which he declined. Since then, the complainant says the subject has continually harassed, threatened and assaulted him, and that he follows him around the streets. The case remains open.
Monday, July 3
STEALING FROM THE PEOPLE
The R/O was dispatched to the area of the Folly Beach Community Center around 3 p.m. in reference to possibly stolen property. Dispatch said the 27-year-old male subject had been seen stealing a two-and-a-half-foot-tall plant from the Community Garden. The officer located the subject carrying the plant towards the boat landing. When confronted, the subject apologized and said he didn’t think the plant would be missed. He offered to put the plant back. The R/O believed the subject to be intoxicated. The R/O issued the subject a ticket for Petty Larceny, and told him to sober up before he tried to leave the island.
Wednesday, July 5
START BY STEALING, END WITH RESISTING
The R/O was dispatched to Bert’s Market around 3 a.m. in reference to a theft. The clerk said a man had walked out of the store with a 12-pack without paying. While looking for the suspect, the R/O came upon a man fitting the subject’s description walking down East Ashley with a red boxy object. When the subject saw the officer, he bent down and placed the object (which later was found to be a 12-pack of beer) behind a light pole. The officer caught up with the subject and detained him for investigation of a theft. While detained, the subject began cursing out the officer, saying he didn’t need beer bad enough to steal it. The officer notes he never mentioned stealing beer specifically. The subject resisted being placed in the patrol car, continued to curse out the police officers, and had to be manhandled into the back of the patrol car. When threatened with a taser, the subject complied, and was peaceably taken to jail.
Thursday, July 6
STEALING STIHL
The R/O was dispatched to a Center Street address around noon in reference to a Theft. Upon arrival, the 40-year-old male complainant said $1,200 of landscaping equipment had been stolen from his company trailer. The complainant had obtained video surveillance of the theft. The officer saw in the video an unknown man pull up beside the landscaping trailer in a van. The driver, who was wearing a yellow traffic safety vest, exited the vehicle, opened its back doors, and began loading items into it from the trailer. Stolen items included a Stihl-brand chainsaw, Stihl-brand string trimmer, and a Stihl backpack blower. The items are marked with orange paint or tape. The investigation continues.
Thursday, July 6
CROSSWALK, CROSSFACE
The R/O responded to a call on Center Street near Ashley Avenue around 12:30 a.m. in reference to a fight in progress. The officer did not observe a fight in progress upon arrival, but did find a 38-year-old man lying in the crosswalk on Center Street. The man was unconscious, but breathing. The man had cuts over his eye and lip and was bleeding. The officer called for EMS. Several witnesses reported seeing the victim fighting with several people in the crosswalk, but were unable to make out any definite details of subjects. EMTs were able to wake the victim, who was intoxicated, and were able to call a friend of his to the scene to pick him up. The victim refused to cooperate or press charges.
Sunday, July 9
AWFUL FIND AT PIER
The R/O was dispatched to the Folly Beach Pier around 6:20 a.m. in reference to a Suspicious Death. The officer met with a 30-year-old man who said he was at the pavilion to watch the sunrise, and when walking down the pavilion ramp, he observed a man hanging by the neck from the roof. The witness approached the victim, who was blue and not breathing and checked for a pulse, which was absent. Later, EMTs pronounced the victim dead on arrival. The 48-year-old victim was identified through his Florida driver’s license. Authorities believe it was a suicide, but the case is being investigated.
Sunday, July 9
WERE-DRUNK
The R/O was dispatched to the area of 8th Street East and Ashley Avenue around 5 p.m. in reference to a call about a possibly intoxicated man who was attempting to drive. The R/O located the 32-year-old male subject standing next to a mini van. The officer could see the man was intoxicated – he couldn’t maintain his balance, and was slurring his speech. The subject was argumentative, and at some point flipped his shoes off and tried to run away from the R/O, but was easily caught. The man was placed under arrest for Disorderly Conduct. The mini van was registered to the subject, but officers were unable to locate the keys. Since the vehicle was parked partially in the roadway, a tow truck was called. A .45 caliber handgun was found in the vehicle, and removed and placed into evidence. While en route to the jail, the subject continued to be disorderly, smacking his head against the passenger side window, growling and yelling at the driver.
Wednesday, July 12
BURGLARY AT PAN GARDEN
The R/O was dispatched to the Pan Garden restaurant on Folly Road around noon in reference to a Burglary. Upon arrival, he met with a restaurant employee who said they had entered the front door to open the restaurant some time before, and found the back door open and damaged, and the cash register broken into. No money was taken, however. The officer reviewed video surveillance, which showed two male subjects entering the restaurant through the back door, one of which was carrying a crowbar. The video showed the men pry open the cash register and rummage around behind the counter. The break-in occurred around 2:30 a.m. the night before. The investigation is ongoing.
Thursday, July 13
CRAIGSLIST RENTAL SCAM
The R/O was dispatched to an eighth block East Arctic Avenue residence around 3 p.m. in reference to a rental scam. Upon arrival, he met with the 25-year-old female victim who said she had been emailing with a person who claimed to have a house for rent on Folly. The victim had sent the suspect a cashier’s check for $1,050, and planned to meet with the landlord this day. When she got there, she found a family living in the home. The victim attempted to contact the suspect by phone, but the number was disconnected. The investigation continues.
