Blue Light Special | Rounding up the area’s weirdest, wildest crime

Moms on the Loose

Everyone knows things can get super tense in the school parking lot.

From distracted drivers to frantic, I’m-late-for-work moms (or dads), it’s usually a free-for-all in the drop-off line.

Two women at Socastee Elementary School get this week’s “bad mom of the week” award for actually slugging it out, in front of school employees, then getting arrested.

In the process, there was pushing, shoving and someone’s foot was run over by a car.

You cannot make this stuff up. Or maybe you wish it was all made up.

The throw-down happened Tuesday morning, which can be a very hard time for moms. Friday is way far away, and everyone is really getting on your last nerve.

According to reports, Stephanie Redmond, 34, shouted at April Ridgeway, 29, for going too fast in the school parking lot.

Instead of just shrugging it off, Ridgeway got out of the car.

That part makes sense.

The two women then began pushing and shoving and were told to stop by school employees.

Ridgeway then attempted to drive away, but Redmond reportedly stepped in front of her car.

Ridgeway, however, kept on driving and ran over Redmond’s foot.

Redmond was taken to a nearby hospital and both women went to jail. Oh, Lord.

A judge later sided with Ridgeway, saying that Redmond stepped in front of her and caused the accident.

Redmond was charged with disturbing schools and given a “no trespass” notice at the school. She was released on $1,000 bond shortly after her arrest.

Ridgeway was not charged in the school brawl.

Guess Dad will be dropping the kids off from now on.

Moped madness

Talking about bad parenting skills, another couple in Myrtle Beach were arrested Sunday after pulling their baby behind a moped during a tropical storm.

Bianca Rose Allen, 18, and Mark Andrew Cherry, 21, both of Myrtle Beach, were found transporting the child behind a moped on May 10.

In case they hadn’t noticed, the forecast was for four to five inches of rain in Horry County during Tropical Storm Ana.

Anyway, the two were first noticed on Dick Pond Road by passing drivers.

When questioned by police, the couple said they had just been to Taco Bell.

Of course they had.

The mother then took her baby out of the cart, which by the way, had two flat tires and a thin, frayed cord connected to the moped.

The couple said they didn’t realize it was illegal to tow a baby behind a moped.

It is, however, illegal to transport a child during a pouring rain storm, on a busy highway, in a cart with a thin strap and two flat tires.

The child’s grandmother now has emergency custody, according to reports.

Allen now can’t take her child on wild ride in a rain storm, since she is forbidden unsupervised visits with the baby.

Allen and Cherry were charged with unlawful neglect of a child.

Both have been released from J. Reuben Long Detention Center on $5,000 bail.

Road rules

Anyone attending this week’s Atlantic Beach Memorial Day Bikefest should bring their smartphone or tablet.

That’s because there are a lot of rules out there regarding traffic, trash, loud noise, parties, drinking, gathering on the sidewalk, in a hotel room, getting in your car, getting out of car.

You know, you get the picture.

The rules say there is a traffic loop for motorcycle riders and a pedestrian path down Ocean Boulevard.

Anyone trying to remember which lane go where, at what time, should consult the heavy list of regulations put out this year by Myrtle Beach officials.

In short, from Friday through Monday, May 22-25, the northbound lanes of Ocean Boulevard are reserved for emergency vehicles.

That was the easy one to remember.

It gets much harder after that.

Another rule states, “all traffic on Ocean Boulevard in Myrtle Beach is one-way, southbound, from 29th Avenue North to South Kings Highway, with an extended loop beyond Ocean Boulevard.”

Not being a fan of any traffic going in a circle, this seems totally confusing.

The rules continue to say that “access to Ocean Boulevard begins on Kings Highway at 29th Avenue North, with no access north of that point. Exits from Ocean Boulevard may be allowed at those cross streets with traffic signals on Kings Highway, depending on traffic conditions.”

You got that? No. I didn’t think so.

“A 23-mile extended traffic loop will be in effect from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday, May 22-25, to keep traffic flowing and prevent gridlock. At other times, traffic may be diverted from Ocean Boulevard to keep vehicles moving at peak periods.”

Pedestrians will be enclosed by barriers, and cannot walk in the road, from 29th Avenue North to South Kings Highway. No word on what to do if you actually have to cross the street, on foot, in that area.

There will be no “impromptu parties,” with or without alcohol, on public or private property.

Parking of motorcycles also carries a list of rules, including how many bikes can be parked in one spot, who pays for the parking, how many parking passes are needed and many, many, many other things.

Not to knock the idea of keeping order, but there are really hard rules to remember.

Good luck with knowing which direction to drive, at exactly what time, during the upcoming bikefest event.

Maybe next year they can simplify things just a little bit for people living and visiting the area.

Minding their business

The Georgetown County Sheriff’s Office, along with SLED (S.C. Law Enforcement Division) and the local Drug Enforcement Unit shut down what they called an illegal business in the Santee area of Georgetown.

The business, which was in a residential area, was actually a drug- and alcohol-soaked operation that involved 20 people, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

On Friday, the business was shut down after a search warrant showed the “business” contained 13 bags of powder cocaine, six bags of crack and $1,124 in cash.

Other stuff taken during the search included 14 large bottles of free pour liquor, 76 mini bottles and 80 beers, police said. Narcotics and other paraphernalia were scattered on the ground when police began searching the area, investigators said.

Jermaine Reed and Daisy May Weatherspoon were charged with unlawful alcohol sales. Maurice Caprice Lincoln was charged with reckless driving, possession with intent to distribute marijuana, possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine and possession with intent to distribute crack.

More arrests are expected, as the investigation into the illegal business continues.

This story was originally published May 18, 2015 at 12:31 AM with the headline "Blue Light Special | Rounding up the area’s weirdest, wildest crime."