Police

MYRTLE BEACH

Woman finds man bleeding from head

A 44-year-old man was taken to a Myrtle Beach area hospital after he was found bleeding with a head wound, according to a police report.

A 43-year-old woman told officers she left home about 7:50 p.m. Monday and when she returned at 9 p.m. she noticed the man lying face up on the ground bleeding from his head in the 8500 block of San Marcello Drive, police said.

The woman said the victim said he knew who assaulted him, but was worried about going to jail, according to the report. The victim then began to mumble and was not able to provide any other details to the woman or police.

The victim was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. Additional information was not listed in the report.

MYRTLE BEACH

Manhole cover stolen near ice cream shop

Myrtle Beach police are investigating the theft of a manhole cover from outside an ice cream shop on Kings Highway, according to a police report.

Workers with Scoops Ice Cream at 1401 S. Kings Highway called officers at 7 p.m. Monday to report a manhole cover in the parking lot was missing, police said. The worker noticed it when he went outside to turn the parking lot lights on.

Another worker told police she noticed a red Sport Utility Vehicle sitting near the cover when she arrived at work, but video surveillance didn’t show anyone stealing the manhole cover.

Officers are investigating the incident. The cover is valued at $150.

MYRTLE BEACH

Man charged with assault on children

A Myrtle Beach man accused of sexually assaulting two children under 5-years-old remains jailed Tuesday.

Nicholas Albert Libretti, 23, is charged with two counts of criminal sexual conduct with a minor under 11-years-old on Oct. 26. He is being held at J. Reuben Long Detention Center and bail has not been set.

According to an Horry County Police report, a 4-year-old girl and 3-year-old boy were taken to a hospital when they complained about pain in their private areas after they had visited with Libretti.

Two doctors at separate medical centers said both children had bruising and inflammation consistent with sexual assault. The boy’s injuries were worse than those to the young girl, the report said.

The S.C. Department of Social Services responded to provide a child safety plan.

HORRY COUNTY

Man beat with hammer, woman charged

A Little River woman is facing criminal domestic violence charges after a man said she hit him with a hammer.

Lauren Ashley Lumpkin. 22, is charged with malicious injury to personal property and criminal domestic violence of a high and aggravated nature. She was arrested Sunday and released from J. Reuben Long Detention Center Monday on $2,000 bond.

A 48-year-old man was at a gas station with his brother about 5 p.m. on Sunday when Lumpkin showed up and started to argue with him then chased them to a friend’s house on Peanutman Lane, according to an Horry County police report. That’s when Lumpkin hit the man with a hammer on his arm and face and ripped a necklace from his neck, the report said.

When the man and his brother tried to drive away, Lumpkin hit the back window of the car breaking the glass.

Lumpkin told police she and the man were in the car together when they started fighting and that he had tried to hit her with the hammer and that the necklace probably came off during the fight.

Lumpkin and the man have been living together on and off for about five years, the report said.

The hammer was collected as evidence.

Local

MYRTLE BEACH

Bank announces first stock dividend

South Atlantic Bancshares, Inc., the parent company of Myrtle Beach-based South Atlantic Bank, announced a 10 percent stock dividend. This is the first stock dividend for South Atlantic Bank, which opened in November 2007.

The stock dividend will be payable on Dec.18 to shareholders as of Dec.3. It provides shareholders with 10 new shares for every 100 shares held, with fractional shares rounded up to the next whole share.

“With the bank soon to celebrate its fifth anniversary, our board of directors felt the timing was appropriate to grant our shareholders a stock dividend, K. Wayne Wicker, chairman of the board and chief executive officer, said in a news release.

The stock dividend will increase the company’s outstanding common shares of stock to about 3,026,312, an addition of 275,120 shares.

MURRELLS INLET

Hospital to hold blood drive

All types are needed during the Waccamaw Community Hospital’s blood drive on Friday.

The drive will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday at Wachesaw Conference Center, 4367 Riverwood Drive in Murrells Inlet, in conference room 1A and 1B.

Walk-ins are welcomed, but appointments will take priority.

To schedule an appointment, call 652-1135 or register online at www.redcrossblood.org, and enter sponsor code WaccamawHosp.

Blood donors must have a valid ID, be healthy, at least 17 years old, and weigh at least 110 pounds.

From staff reports