Man arrested after chase in Horry County where speeds reached 150 mph, cops say
Speeds exceeded 150 mph as a man on a motorcycle led Horry County police on a lengthy chase this weekend, authorities said.
At one point, the suspect ran out of gas in Marion County, was let go by police there, only to be arrested a short time later in Horry County.
The chase started in the North Myrtle Beach area around 10 p.m. Friday, according to an Horry County police report. North Myrtle officers tried to stop a motorcycle, but the driver fled.
Horry County police joined the chase near S.C. Highway 22 and U.S. 17 when the motorcycle passed a county cop at a high rate of speed, according to a police report.
The chase stretched onto Highway 22, S.C. 31, S.C. 9 and other roads.
Speeds during the chase were routinely around 120 mph and reached 150 mph during one stretch, according to police radio traffic. The chase lasted for more than 15 minutes.
The driver drove into Marion County, so Horry County turned the pursuit over to officers in that county. A mile into Marion County, sheriff’s deputies there spoke to the driver, who said he ran from the police but stopped when he ran out of gas.
Marion County deputies let the driver go because they did not have charges, according to the report.
A short time later, Horry County police then saw the motorcycle drive by the west precinct, and an officer gave chase again.
This time, the driver stopped and was arrested, the report states.
Horry County police charged Michael Joseph Pfieffer, 27, with failure to stop for blue lights. Police also cited him for reckless driving.
Pfieffer was booked into J. Reuben Long Detention Center on Friday and released on nearly $2,500 bond.
This story was originally published April 13, 2020 at 2:02 PM.
