Man charged after 5-year-old nearly drowns in Myrtle Beach oceanfront hotel pool
A 5-year-old nearly drowned last week in a Myrtle Beach pool, and now the man responsible for her care faces a decade in prison.
Myrtle Beach police arrested Alexander Byrd Jr. on Saturday on a charge of unlawful neglect of a child.
Around 8:30 p.m. Friday, Myrtle Beach police went to Ocean Reef Resort, 7100 N. Ocean Blvd., for a reported drowning. A 5-year-old girl left the Jacuzzi area and went to the pool by herself, according to an arrest warrant. Byrd was responsible for watching the child.
The girl went into the pool and was underwater for five minutes, the warrant states.
The victim was taken to the hospital where she was revived, according to the warrant.
Byrd was near the Jacuzzi when the child left the area, but failed to watch her, police say. Unlawful neglect of a child is punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
This story was originally published August 17, 2020 at 11:38 AM.
