Police

HORRY COUNTY

Mexican native returned to U.S. illegally

A Mexican man pleaded guilty in Federal Court to illegally coming back in the U.S. after he was deported following a child cruelty prison sentence, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office.

Octavio Huicho Flores, 26, of Mexico, pleaded guilty Wednesday in Florence to coming back into the U.S. after he was deported Feb. 25, 2002, according to U.S. Attorney Bill Nettles. District Judge Terry L. Wooten accepted the plea and will impose sentence at a later date.

Flores faces up to a $250,000 fine and 20 years in prison.

HORRY COUNTY

Man accused of mistreating animals

A Conway man has been charged with six counts of ill treatment of animals and one drug charge in connection with a raid at a Carolina Forest business, according to authorities.

Lloyd Allen Michels, 25, was booked into J. Reuben Long Detention Center at 10:37a.m. Thursday on the animal abuse charges and a manufacture, possession or distribution of LSD and cocaine, and is being held on $7,500 bond, according to jail records.

Horry County police continue to search for another man, Sep Snyder, whose age and hometown are not listed on a report, on similar charges.

The charges stemmed from June 11 when agents with the 15th Circuit Drug Enforcement unit executed search warrants at Before 20 Head Shop in Carolina Forest.

Two snakes were found dead during a raid of the head shop in a unit next to the Carolina Forest Flea Market at 4761 U.S. 501, according to authorities.

Other live snakes were found on the property. All snakes were identified as Ball Pythons and four were turned over to the Horry County Animal Care Center where they will be held as evidence for the case, the report said.

MYRTLE BEACH

Woman woke to man in hotel room

Woman tells Myrtle Beach police she woke to find man in her hotel room, purse stolen.

A 22-year-old woman told Myrtle Beach police she woke to a man in her motel room and he stole her purse before running out, according to a police report.

The victim told officers she was sleeping at 4 a.m. Friday when she heard a noise and woke up to see a man in her room at 1001 S. Ocean Blvd., police said.

Detectives are investigating.

MYRTLE BEACH

Men report robbery at gunpoint

Two men stopped a Myrtle Beach police officer early Thursday to report they were robbed of their phones, cash and a knife by two men with a gun, according to a police report.

The victims, ages 21 and 19, told officers they were walking back from the Circle Kat 17th Avenue South and Kings Highway at 12:20 a.m. Thursday when they were approached by two men, police said.

The victims said the suspect pointed a handgun at them and then went through their pockets and took their cell phones, valued at $250, $25 cash and a pocketknife, according to the report. The victim said the suspects then ran away.

But a few minutes later before they found the police officer the victims said they saw two men on a mo-ped that resembled the suspects.

MYRTLE BEACH

Store clerk robbed at gunpoint

A 37-year-old man working at a store on Kings Highway in Myrtle Beach said a man pulled a gun on him demanding money, according to police.

An unknown man entered the store at 6217 North Kings Highway and put a black handgun to the victim’s neck saying “Give me all the money or I’ll kill you,” in Spanish, the report said.

The store clerk turned over the bank bag and the suspect fled west on 63rd Avenue North.

From staff reports