North Myrtle Beach's Bailey cleared on coverup allegations

North Myrtle Beach's former Public Safety director, William Bailey, has been cleared of allegations that he covered up a 2008 domestic violence case to help one of Mayor Marilyn Hatley's top political supporters.

Bailey contacted local media Tuesday to say the city of North Myrtle Beach was sitting on a report from the State Law Enforcement Division that clears him of the accusations.

But city spokeswoman Nicole Aiello said the only document the city has received is a letter from the 5th District Solicitor's Office in Columbia.

That letter says that based on an investigative report from March that was submitted to the solicitor by SLED, there's not sufficient evidence to merit prosecution of Bailey and the matter is closed.

Bailey said he filed a request under the Freedom of Information Act for the report, and The Sun News has requested a copy of the report, as well.

"I'm just as proud of that letter as I can be," he said. "It says nothing was wrong and the matter's closed. It needs to be out there for people to see, but [the media] got it and no one connected with me has received a copy."

Bailey issued a press release Tuesday, saying "I understand that SLED found that all the allegations were baseless," and said the only reason the city wouldn't release the report is to "continue to cast doubts on my character."

He didn't say how he knew of the report's contents.

Bailey, who left his position after 20 years, had a bitter battle over how his gun had been stored on the night it was stolen from his unlocked truck. He was suspended and demoted; and since he left has filed suit against the city, charging defamation and violations of his constitutional rights.

Bailey's lawsuit was filed June 11 against the city, former city manager John Smithson, Aiello and Steven Thomas, the assistant city manager.

The lawsuit repeats claims Bailey has made for months that city officials forced him to lie about whether the glove compartment in his truck was locked on the night his gun was stolen from the vehicle.

Bailey has said he was made a scapegoat for city officials who had grown weary of intense media scrutiny following the April 2009 wildfire in Barefoot Resort, where 76 homes were destroyed.

The city has also filed suit against Bailey, alleging fraud and defamation.

At the end of July, officials, who had planned to fire Bailey in spring 2009 for reportedly lying about the gun, said he also lied about his plans to retire.

The accusations are included in court documents the city filed in its legal battle with Bailey.

The city's suit calls Bailey's conduct "so extreme and outrageous as to exceed all possible bounds of decency."

Bailey said the SLED report is not part of his lawsuit, and said his lawyers have advised him not to comment on the pending legal matters.