Police | Parents, grandparents face abuse charges in Myrtle Beach

Police

MYRTLE BEACH

Parents, grandparents face abuse charges

The parents and grandparents of a 3-month-old boy have been arrested on charges they neglected the baby earlier this year, according to a police report.

The baby was taken to Conway Medical Center on May 29 after EMS was called to an apartment at 4050 Whisker Pole in Myrtle Beach because the baby was not breathing, police said. A neighbor told officials the baby's mother ran into the front yard yelling for help.

Physicians called police because the baby weighed 5 pounds and was 22 inches long, according to the report. The baby was in critical condition and flown to the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston for treatment. His condition was not immediately available Thursday.

On Wednesday, Horry County police charged the following people with abuse to inflict great bodily injury upon a child, according to records from J. Reuben Long Detention Center.

The baby's parents Maria De Los Angeles Mejia and Victor Mendez Modesto, both 24, were arrested, as were grandparents Guadalupe Diaz, 46, Benito Soto and Monserrrat Figueroa Mejia, whose ages were not listed.

They are being held at the detention center and bail had not been set.

ANDREWS

Third drug offense earns man 20 years

An Andrews man was sentenced to 20 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to his third offense of distributing crack cocaine, according to the 15th Circuit Solicitor's Office.

Octavious Omar Collins pleaded guilty Wednesday.

BRUNSWICK COUNTY, N.C.

Boat motor thief wanted by police

The Brunswick County Sheriff's Office is searching for a man wanted in connection with stolen boat motors from the Little River area, according to a news release from Sgt. April Stanley with the Brunswick County Sheriff's Office.

Arrest warrants have been issued for Davis Reid Chestnut, 19, of Calabash, N.C., who is wanted for two counts of felony possession of stolen goods, Stanley said.

Several boat motors were stolen from residences in the Little River area between Aug. 20 and Aug. 21.

Detectives with the Sheriff's Office recovered two of the boat motors in Brunswick County, Stanley said. The investigation is ongoing and additional charges are pending.

PAWLEYS ISLAND

Man charged in restaurant robbery

A Pawleys Island man was charged with robbing a restaurant late Wednesday, according to the Georgetown County Sheriff's Office.

Brian Keith Dennison, 38, was charged with armed robbery after officers were called about 11:15 p.m. Wednesday to The Blue Crab at 9448 Ocean Highway in Pawleys Island, according to an incident report.

After receiving a description of the vehicle seen leaving the area after the robbery, police stopped Dennison in the area of Voyager Drive and South Causeway Road, according to the report. The vehicle's plate was covered with a plastic bag, and witnesses identified the driver and the vehicle.

A second man involved in the incident was not located.

The victims told police two men were outside the restaurant and one man armed with a gun approached them and demanded money, according to the report. The gunman ordered one man back into the restaurant to open the safe.

MYRTLE BEACH

Authorities probe apartment fire

Myrtle Beach fire officials are investigating an apartment fire that occurred Thursday evening.

Officials received a call at 5:04 p.m. about the fire at one of two apartments at a one-story residence at 542 Nance Street, authorities said.

The apartment was damaged. No one was home at the time of the fire.

Firefighters had the fire under control in 15 minutes

Local

GRAND STRAND

Noncredit courses available at CCU

The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Coastal Carolina University will host "Free Week," a sampling of noncredit courses from the upcoming semester, Sept. 7-9, according to a release from the university.

Dozens of free lectures and demonstrations of fall courses and special interest clubs will be available to current and prospective lifelong learners, who also will have the opportunity to meet teachers and staff, learn about accessing OLLI's website and WebAdvisor, get assistance in registering for membership and classes, and secure parking permits and photo IDs.

More than 300 classes and workshops for the regular fall semester will begin Sept. 13, the release said. Classes will be held at three outreach centers: Foundation Center, U.S. 501 and Winyah Road, Conway; Myrtle Beach Education Center, 79th Avenue North and U.S. 17 Bypass, Myrtle Beach; and Waccamaw Higher Education Center, 160 Willbrook Blvd., Litchfield. A "Free Week" schedule and course descriptions may be found in the catalog, available at the three centers, libraries and chambers of commerce. The catalog is also online at www.coastal.edu/olli, along with the weekly newsletter.

For more information or to receive a catalog by mail, call 349-4001 (Conway), 349-2767 (Myrtle Beach) or 349-6584 (Litchfield).