Police

GRAND STRAND

Wrecks snarl holiday weekend traffic

Multiple wrecks were reported Friday as vacationers poured into the Grand Strand for Memorial Day weekend.

At 5:30 p.m. the S.C. Highway Patrol had already investigated three motorcycle wrecks with two more in the city of Myrtle Beach.

Lance Cpl. Sonny Collins said the first was on U.S. 17 in the Briarcliff Acres area near S.C. 22 where a motorcyclist struck the rear of a vehicle that had slowed down at a traffic light. That wreck was reported about 12:30 p.m.

At the same time, on U.S. 501, a car made a left turn failing to yield to a motorcyclist in front of the Grand Strand Nissan dealership. Collins said the motorcycle and the car collided and traffic was blocked while the scene was cleared.

About 2:45 p.m., Collins said a motorcyclist lost control of his bike while trying to stop at a red light on U.S. 501 near Red Line Motorsports.

In all three incidents, Collins said the motorcyclists were not wearing helmets, but did not have serious injuries.

In Myrtle Beach, two wrecks were reported at 4:18 p.m. on opposite sides of town.

One was at 19th Avenue North and North Kings Highway. Capt. David Knipes with Myrtle Beach police said three motorcycles were involved in the crash and minor injuries were reported.

Witnesses said North Kings Highway was closed in both directions from about 21st Avenue North to 16th Avenue North.

The other wreck was at 2607 S. Kings Highway. Minor injuries were reported, but details of that incident were not available. At least three more wrecks were reported in city limits Friday night.

GEORGETOWN COUNTY

18-year-old’s death under investigation

The death of an 18-year-old is still under investigation in Georgetown County.

James Earl Richardson Jr. of Pawleys Island was found after someone called 911 at 12:45 a.m. Friday to report a body lying by the road along Parkersville Road in Pawleys Island, according to Lt. T. L. Staub with the sheriff’s office. Deputies found Richardson’s body on the side of the road.

An autopsy at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston Friday morning showed Richardson died from a gunshot wound, Staub said.

Detectives are investigating the death and ask that anyone with information call or text them.

Call the Georgetown County Sheriff’s Office at 546-5101 or text anonymous tips by dialing 274637 from any text enabled cellphone, and text the word “GCSOTIP” followed by your message.

CONWAY

Shooting victim taken to hospital

Conway police are investigating a shooting that occurred just before 1 p.m. Friday.

Catina Hipp, spokeswoman for Conway police, said one person was shot on Grainger Road off U.S. 378 near the Crane Creek apartment complex.

Hipp said the victim was shot in the leg and was transported to Grand Strand Regional Medical Center. She did not have any other details of the shooting.

MYRTLE BEACH

Owner fined for dog’s treatment

Myrtle Beach police cited a man for mistreating his dog.

Ian Robert Sinyard, 24, of Myrtle Beach was given a $469 fine for mistreating his dog by failing to provide veterinary care, according to a police report. Police said the fine could be dropped if Sinyard brings proof of treatment to court. Additionally, police said the choice to surrender the dog if care could not be provided was offered to Sinyard.

Police received a complaint about the dog’s condition. Sinyard told police the young yellow Labrador retriever mix received treatments for mange, a skin disease, but his mother in Conway was taking the dog to the veterinary appointments because he did not have transportation. Sinyard could not provide documentation of the appointments, and police said the dog had hair loss, scabs all over his back and was biting and scratching at himself.

Sinyard told police the dog still had a skin infection and that he was trying over-the-counter methods he found online, including a peroxide wash. He was told by police to stop using any over-the-counter chemicals and that the law required veterinary care when the dog is in need.

Local

MYRTLE BEACH

Helicopter tour company opens

A helicopter tour company opened Friday in the Myrtle Beach area after last-minute meetings Thursday with county leaders to calm concerns about potential noise from the operation.

Helicopter Adventures received needed business licenses from Horry County and Myrtle Beach on Friday morning, just in time to open as planned off 21st Avenue North. Company leaders met with county officials late Thursday to address noise and safety complaints from nearby residents in Plantation Point that trickled into county offices this week. County spokeswoman Lisa Bourcier said late Thursday that the county’s questions were satisfied during that meeting.

Helicopter Adventures, which shuttles riders from Broadway at the Beach to the launch site behind NASCAR SpeedPark off 21st Avenue North, has seven routes to choose from, ranging from two miles to 52 miles going as far north as the Carolinas border. Prices range from $20 a person to $179.99 a person.

Tour hours are 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week.

From staff reports