Horry County drug unit conducted an illegal search and took safes, lawsuit says
A Myrtle Beach area couple say the county’s Drug Enforcement Unit illegally searched their home and seized two safes.
The allegations were included a lawsuit filed by Darrell and Latoya Jackson this week in federal court, but stemming from a March investigation by the 15th Judicial Circuit Drug Enforcement Unit. The unit is a multi-jurisdictional task force that operates in both Horry and Georgetown counties.
As DEU agents watched, Carl Lee Green left the Jacksons’ Myrtle Beach area home on Avacado Court, according to the filing. Police conducted a traffic stop on Green, searched him and found 4 ounces of cocaine.
Police used that incident to get a search warrant for the Jackson home, according to the suit.
During the search, police didn’t’ find any illegal drugs or contraband, according to the suit, but did take two safes. The safes were later returned, but the Jacksons say they were damaged and contents were missing. The lawsuit does not specify what was in the safes.
The suit alleges the search of the home was illegal and without probable cause.
The couple argued the agents taking the safes was without due process and against the couple’s constitutional rights. The lawsuit states that taking the property is an incentive to prosecute forfeiture cases. Forfeiture cases have become an issue in South Carolina courts. In Horry County, the state’s forfeiture law was deemed unconstitutional and the case is pending before the state’s Supreme Court.
According to Horry County court records, there is no forfeiture case against Darrell Jackson.
The Jacksons’ federal suit asks for an unspecified amount of money.
Jimmy Richardson, solicitor of the 15th Judicial Circuit and who oversees the DEU, said they trust the legal system and are ready to defend themselves against the lawsuit’s allegations.
A man was one of the people arrested in connection to a drug trafficking ring in Horry County announced earlier this week. It’s unclear if Darrell Jackson in the lawsuit is the same person arrested by federal officials.
