Police

MYRTLE BEACH

Owner charged after puppy found in car

A New Hampshire man was charged Wednesday afternoon when police found a puppy inside a vehicle where the temperature was 105 degrees inside, according to a Myrtle Beach police report.

Tyler J. Mason, 19, of Kensington, N.H., was charged with mistreatment of an animal by officers who were called at 1 p.m. Wednesday to a parking lot at 794 Oak Forest Lane for a puppy inside a vehicle, police said.

Officers found a 3- to 4-month-old red lab mix puppy alone inside a small red car with a New Jersey license plate, according to the report. The windows were cracked about two inches and officers noted the temperature inside the car was 105 degrees.

The dog was released to Mason’s girlfriend, but the arrest report did not list details how Mason was arrested or other information.

MYRTLE BEACH

Man receives 9-year sentence in robbery

A Myrtle Beach man pleaded guilty to a robbery charge and was ordered to serve nine years in prison, according to Horry County court records.

Samuel Elliott Berry, 25, of Myrtle Beach pleaded guilty to strong arm robbery last week and was sentenced to serve nine years in prison, which will run concurrently with another sentence he pleaded guilty to in April 2011, according to records.

In the plea that occurred last week, Berry was ordered to pay court costs and given credit for the time he had served, according to court records. Berry will be eligible for parole in November 2013 and is expected to be released in January 2017.

A charge of indecent exposure was dismissed as part of the plea.

In the April 5, 2011, hearing, Berry pleaded guilty to three counts of breaking into motor vehicles or tanks or pumps where fuel, lubricants were stored and was sentenced to five years in prison, but a circuit court judge suspended that sentence to time served and ordered Berry to serve three years on probation. Berry received time served on two of the three counts.

Details about the incidents that the charges stemmed from were not immediately available.

MYRTLE BEACH

Indiana police officer loses wallet, badge

Myrtle Beach police are investigating a report that an Indianapolis police officer lost his wallet that contained his badge while in the city on Wednesday, according to a police report.

The 40-year-old man told Myrtle Beach officers he lost his wallet in the area of 70th Avenue North and Ocean Boulevard between 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. Wednesday, police said.

The man said the wallet contained his Indianapolis metropolitan police badge, his identification, $1,400 cash and three credit cards, according to the report. No other details were listed in the report.

SURFSIDE BEACH

Two charged in hotel meth lab

Horry County police have charged two people after discovering a meth lab in a motel room late Wednesday night, police said.

Adam Douglas Merryman, 29, of Elizabeth Town, Tenn., was charged with possession of methamphetamine, manufacturing methamphetamine, possession of a controlled substance and simple possession of marijuana. Michael Ira Thomas, 41, of Surfside Beach was charged with manufacturing methamphetamine, possession of a controlled substance and simple possession of marijuana.

Sgt. Robert Kegler, with Horry County police, said the men were arrested at the Astro Motel at 1725 U.S. 17 North in the Surfside Beach area. Police found the ingredients and drug paraphernalia used in making methamphetamine. Kegler said police were called for a suspicious odor.

Both men are being held at J. Reuben Long Detention Center.

Local

MYRTLE BEACH

Free bus service offered daily

Coast RTA, the area’s public transit service, will run a shuttle from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily starting Friday for downtown entertainment in Myrtle Beach. The bus will circle Broadway at the Beach and will travel down 21st Avenue North, stopping at the senior center, the DMV and the health department on the way to Kings Highway. The bus will drive to the Pavilion parking garage then north on Ocean Boulevard, eventually stopping at Plyler Park and the SkyWheel.

The entertainment shuttle is free and will run all summer ending on Labor Day.

For more information call 488-0865.

NORTH MYRTLE BEACH

Free swimming lessons offered

Free swimming lessons for people ages 5 and older will be available at the North Myrtle Beach Aquatic and Fitness Center from June 4 to June 8. Students will learn basic swimming and water safety skills.

The program is a joint effort of the Aquatic & Fitness Center and the Grand Strand Masters Swim Team and is part of the “Make a Splash” water safety initiative sponsored by the U.S. Masters Swimming Save Lives Foundation and the USA Swimming Foundation.

The program focuses primarily on people who are afraid to go in the water, and those with poor or no swimming skills.

Participants may select from one of the following class times: 5:15 p.m.-6:00 p.m., 6:15 p.m.-7:00 p.m., or 7:15 p.m.-8:00 p.m. Registration is required at the Aquatic & Fitness Center.

From staff reports