Blue Light Special | Parodies that round up the area’s weirdest, wildest crime
Hot mess
A man who apparently has a massive fetish for setting garbage can and residential home fires was arrested Friday by the Horry County Police after lighting up in several different locations.
Ryan Patrick Casiere, 21, of Murrells Inlet, had reportedly been very busy in the past two years, setting blazes at local businesses, garbage cans, houses and who knows what else, according to information from Horry County Police.
But it was his final attempt to torch two different dumpsters and a new home in Horry County that led to his finally being nabbed for being a real-life fire bug.
He is accused of setting fire to dumpsters behind the Power House Bar and Grill on U.S. 17 Bypass and a nearby weight-loss clinic early Friday, reports said.
He is also accused of burning a nearby house that was under construction.
And all that was just one day’s work.
With all the weird, unexplained burning going on, police began to connect the dots. It also helped that he was caught on a surveillance camera setting fire to the trash at the weight-loss clinic.
Casiere has reportedly confessed to a long string of arson-related crimes, including those at American Mattress, Bed Man and South Strand Landscaping. Other blazes of cars, cans and homes could also be attributed to him.
He currently remains in the J. Reuben Long Detention Center, after being charged with six counts of third-degree arson.
Let’s hope they hide the matches from that guy while he waits for other possible arson charges to be lodged against him.
Kelly Fuller, For The Surge
Self-shooter
Police and residents are all too familiar with the scenario of a convenience store shooting.
Usually, it’s the unlucky employee who is hurt during an encounter with a gun.
On Thursday, a man who apparently was shot in another location appeared at the Kangaroo Gas Station on Church Street in Conway.
The man told the clerk that he was hurt, and that he was responsible for his own injuries.
He apparently shot himself in the leg, then walked to the station for help, police said.
No word on why he would turn the gun on himself, but he wasn’t seriously injured.
Police are still trying to determine exactly how the shooting happened.
Kelly Fuller, For The Surge
Tazed and confused
A man told police he was at a hotel to buy drugs when two men “tazed” him with a stun gun and robbed him in a hotel elevator, according to a police report.
Just remember to be safe out there if you’re ever at a hotel late at night to buy drugs.
Myrtle Beach police were called about 10:20 p.m. Tuesday to the hotel where a 42-year-old man reported the incident, authorities said.
The victim told police he was at the hotel to “buy weed,” because, of course he was.
The suspects took his wallet which contained $100 cash, debit and credit cards, his driver’s license and his social security card, according to the report.
Josh Bell, digital reporter
Roof-top cops
In an effort to raise money for a good cause, officers from the Conway Police Department gathered on the roof of Chick-fil-A in Conway for several days last week.
The officers announced that they would be roosting on top of the Church Street business for three days, hoping to raise money for Special Olympics.
They stayed on site Thursday, Friday and Saturday, according to information from the Conway Police Department.
A good cause, but a really strange way to hold a fundraising event.
Then again, who can ignore the sight of local police officers hanging out on the roof of Chick-fil-A?
Customers were urged to give spare change and donations in order to help raise money for Special Olympics.
By Kelly Fuller, For The Surge
Out of gas, out of mind
Myrtle Beach police located a truck that was reported stolen after it was found in the middle of U.S. 501 after running out of gas.
Police were called at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday to a parking garage at 2207 S. Ocean Blvd. where a 47-year-old man reported his truck stolen, authorities said.
The victim said the person who parked the truck for him admitted to leaving the keys inside and the truck unlocked, because of course he did.
LIFE HACK: DON’T LET RANDOM PEOPLE PARK YOUR CAR FOR YOU. THIS IS A POSSIBLE OUTCOME.
Police are still investigating the incident.
Josh Bell, digital reporter
Bus-based attack
A woman accused of threatening a child on a school bus in Georgetown County will go on trial May 18.
Reports are that Sharon Mouzon-McDonald will face a judge for reportedly raising her fists at a special needs child in her care.
Yes, you read that right.
A woman who was supposed to be helping the kids on the bus is now accused of trying to hurt one. Dang.
Mouzon-McDonald is now charged with third-degree assault and battery.
Police said threatened to strike the child sometime between Jan. 19 and 22.
She reportedly raised her fists and walked toward the kid as he left the bus.
Lucky for the other students, she is now on unpaid administrative leave from her school bus job.
Kelly Fuller, For The Surge
This story was originally published April 28, 2015 at 3:01 PM with the headline "Blue Light Special | Parodies that round up the area’s weirdest, wildest crime."