Police

LITCHFIELD BEACH

Condo fire caused by lightning

Lightning caused a fire early Tuesday that damaged two condominium units in Litchfield Beach, according to fire officials.

Natural causes from a lightning strike from a thunderstorm that moved through the area about 3 a.m. Tuesday caused the blaze at 163 Heron Marsh Drive in Litchfield Beach, said Bob Beebe, public information officer for Midway Fire Department.

When crews arrived they found fire coming from one of the condos and it took about an hour before they got the blaze under control, Beebe said.

Crews spent several hours extinguishing the blaze, cleaning up and checking for hot spots in the fire. Horry County and Georgetown County fire crews also assisted in battling the blaze.

HORRY COUNTY

Sexual assault suspect arrested

Horry County police arrested a man wanted in connection with the sexual assault of a convenience store clerk during the weekend Wednesday afternoon, Sgt. Robert Kegler said.

The Sun News does not identify suspects until formal charges have been filed. His name and his charges will likely be available Thursday morning.

Officers were called about 5:15 a.m. Saturday to the Scotchman on Lake Arrowhead Road where the clerk told officers that a man came into the store, got a beverage and went into the restroom, Kegler said. The clerk told police that the man came out and said there was an issue with the plumbing in the bathroom of the store.

The clerk followed the man to the bathroom and the man pushed the clerk inside, pulled out a Taser and held it on the clerk, Kegler said. The man forced the clerk to perform sexual acts on him in the bathroom before the man took money from the register and left the store.

Customers came into the store twice during the incident that occurred between 4:30 a.m. and 5:15 a.m. Sunday, Kegler said. Police want to speak to those customers to see if they remember any details from their visit to the store at that time.

Police released a surveillance photo of the man entering the store before noon Wednesday and had the man identified and in police custody before 6 p.m.

MYRTLE BEACH

Man accused of fondling child

A 23-year-old Myrtle Beach man was arrested by Horry County police in connection with an 11-year-old girl being inappropriately touched, according to a police report.

Christopher William Revilla, 23, of Myrtle Beach was charged with third-degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor/attempt lewd act and was booked into J. Reuben Long Detention Center at 2 p.m. Tuesday, according to jail records. Revilla remained there at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday without bail.

Horry County police were called on Monday by the victim’s mother, who told officers that her daughter told her about the incidents in which Revilla had rubbed and touched her while he was next to her, according to the report. The victim’s mother told police Revilla had watched her daughter for her and is friends with the people that babysat the girl.

The girl told police the incidents occurred during the past few months, according to the report. The girl said the incident occurred while she was sleeping and Revilla would inappropriately touch her. She said she would roll over and pretend to be sleeping.

The victim’s mother told police she confronted Revilla about it and he apologized and said the incident was because he was drinking, according to the report. Detectives were investigating the incidents.

Local

MYRTLE BEACH

Lottery prize still unclaimed

Time is running out for a lottery winner to claim a $10,000 prize.

A Mega Millions ticket worth $10,000 was sold in Myrtle Beach ahead of the Sept. 25, 2012 drawing and the cash still hasn’t been claimed.

The ticket was sold at the Cash and Dash at 890 Lake Arrowhead Road in Myrtle Beach. The last ay to claim the prize is March 25 at the Columbia Claims Center by 4 p.m. The winning numbers on the ticket were 7-8-23-50-51 Megaball 26, Megaplier 3.

If the prize is not claimed, money will be deposited in the Education Lottery Account to support educational programs in South Carolina.

From staff reports