Bond denied for man accused of shooting at Myrtle Beach police during standoff
A Virginia man facing several felony charges after allegedly shooting at Myrtle Beach Police officers during a lengthy standoff must remain in jail until, a judge ruled Thursday.
William Berry Hodges, 45, barricaded himself Tuesday morning inside a home in the area of Longleaf Circle when police responded to a report there of a domestic dispute. No officers were injured.
The standoff lasted hours before Hodges set a mattress on fire inside the home, causing the house to catch on fire and him to come out and surrender, according to police.
Hodges is accused of hitting a woman with a hammer, tying her up and threatening to kill her. Police say she escaped from the home Tuesday and fled to a Myrtle Beach fire station to report the abuse.
In total, he’s facing 10 counts of attempted murder, one count of kidnapping, one count of second-degree arson, one count of cruelty to animals and two weapons possession charges.
Myrtle Beach Police Chief Amy Prock spoke during the bond hearing, urging the judge to deny bond because Hodges presented a clear danger to the community, while a Horry County solicitor suggested that he’s a flight risk because he was already on probation for similar charges in Virginia and wasn’t even supposed to be in South Carolina.
Hodges disputed both assertions, telling the judge that he was helping to establish a residence in Myrtle Beach for his mom, and his probation officer knew that. He offered to submit to house arrest and live with his mom.
But the judge agreed with Prock and the solicitor in denying bond.
Hodges got emotional when listening to the judge discuss the animal cruelty charge, which stems from his dog dying in the house fire. Fire officials had initially believed Hodges let the dog out of the house, according to police, but Hodges tearfully claimed during Thursday’s hearing that police wouldn’t let him.
