Man claims to be an FBI agent before fleeing police, crashing into Horry PD car, cops say
A man claiming to be an FBI agent led police on a car chase that included crashing into an Horry County squad vehicle, authorities said.
An Horry County police detective was working in the Glenns Bay area around 4 p.m. Saturday, according to police. Robert Perez, 47, approached and took issue with the officer having a county-issued gun that was holstered.
The detective said he was a police officer, and Perez responded he was FBI agent before he started to flee.
The detective asked Perez for his identification, at which point the 47-year-old got into his vehicle and fled, police said. The detective gave chase until more patrol cars arrived.
Police chased Perez along U.S. Highway 17 and he made erratic u-turns, officials said. Police tried to use “stop sticks” to end the chase, but Perez drove off the road to avoid them.
Perez led the police into Myrtle Beach’s Coastal Grand Mall parking lot where he crashed into a patrol vehicle, officials said. Perez drug an officer who tried to remove him from the car. The suspect also made threatening gestures referencing a gun and that he would kill officers.
Police arrested Perez and one officer had to get treatment at a hospital for minor injuries. Three other cops were checked out by medical staff.
Perez, of Surfside Beach, was charged with failure to stop for blue lights, impersonating a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest, assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature, threatening the life, person, or family of a public officials, reckless driving, and two counts of failure to appear.
Perez is being held in J. Reuben Long Detention Center without bail. Police say additional charges are possible.
