Police

HORRY COUNTY

Woman charged with tax fraud

An Horry County woman was arrested Monday on charges of filing a false tax return, according to a news release from the S.C. Department of Revenue.

Sedina Charica Alston, 31, has been charged with one count of assisting in the preparation of a false tax return.

She was taken to J. Reuben Long Detention Center in Conway.

Alston provided a fraudulent W2 form to her tax preparer, according to S.C. Department of Revenue officials. Alston did not work for the employer indicated.

The W2 form also stated that she earned $15,800 in wages and had $711 in state taxes withheld from her wages. As a result of the fraudulent W2 form, Alston submitted a fraudulent 2011 individual income tax return and requested a state tax refund of $711 to which she was not entitled, said Samantha Cheek, spokeswoman for the Department of Revenue.

Alston could face penalties of up to five years in prison and/or up to $500 in fines, if she is convicted of the charge.

CONWAY

Four charged in burglary

Conway police have charged four people in connection with a house burglary that happened last week, according to a statement released Monday from spokeswoman Catina Hipp.

Rodrick Sealey, 26; Shane Hucks, 23; Taj Smalls, 19; and Walter Cuttino, 18, all of Conway, are charged in connection with the burglary that occurred Thursday at a house in the 1300 block of Seventh Avenue in Conway, Hipp said.

All four appeared before Judge Andy Hendrick on Monday morning for a bail hearing.

Sealy, who has been charged with first-degree burglary, received a $50,000 surety bond, Hipp said. Hucks, Smalls and Cuttino, all charged with second-degree burglary, each received a $25,000 surety bond.

All four were arrested after officers responded shortly before 9 a.m. Thursday to Racepath Avenue and Gene Street for a suspicious activity complaint. A witness saw two men walking in the area carrying a flat screen television.

Officers found the individuals and determined they had broken into a house on Seventh Avenue.

THE CAROLINAS

Campaign Sunday nets 26 cases

More than 80 area officers participated in Sunday night’s Hands Across the Borders event, and made 26 cases during the safety checkpoints.

Of the 26 cases, there was one driving under the influence, three illegal alcohol cases, and two illegal drug cases, Myrtle Beach Police Cpl. Hugh Jones said in a statement.

Nine people were arrested and three vehicles were towed.

Also, a Florida fugitive was arrested on outstanding drug trafficking charges, Jones said.

HORRY COUNTY

Teen tattooed; sister charged with neglect

A woman in Calabash, N.C., called Horry County police about 10 a.m. Sunday when she found out her 13-year-old daughter got a tattoo while staying with her 17-year-old sister.

The sister, Marina Johnson, of the Carolina Forest area, is charged with unlawful neglect of a child.

On Thursday, Johnson took her sister to a man’s home where she was tattooed with an infinity symbol and her sister’s name on her back, police said.

Johnson is being held at J. Reuben Long Detention Center pending a bond hearing.

Local

HORRY COUNTY

Flooding closes Gore Road

More rain on Monday caused flooding on Gore Road off S.C. 319, prompting Horry County public works to close the street.

Residents of Gore Road will still be allowed to travel on the street but are urged to use caution. Any drivers hoping to use Gore Road as a through-road will need to seek alternate routes.

A time for the reopening of the road to all traffic has not been determined.

MYRTLE BEACH

Devo Olive Oil Co. does turnaround

Devo Olive Oil Co., which had planned to close its store at The Market Common on Sunday, is staying open after all.

Devo notified its customers in an email Sunday afternoon that the store next to the Grand 14 Cinema on Deville Street isn’t closing as officials told The Sun News on Friday and via email to customers last week. The owner could not be reached Monday.

“We got some fantastic news on Saturday evening and we will NOT be closing our store at the Market Common,” the email says. “We sincerely apologize for the confusion and are thrilled to be able to serve you in this area for years to come.”

Devo Olive Oil Co. debuted in Myrtle Beach in April 2011 at Broadway at the Beach but moved to The Market Common in October.

Devo has one other store, in Branson, Mo.

From staff reports