Two arrested after leading Horry County police on vehicle chase

Two people were arrested Monday after leading Horry County police on a vehicle chase through North Myrtle Beach.

Mary Elizabeth Flippin, 27, of Anderson is charged with failure to stop for blue lights and possession of a stolen vehicle. Brian Michael Wilbanks, 42, of Anderson is charged with possession of heroin.

Police were called to the Murphy Express at 577 International Drive in Carolina Forest around 11:30 p.m. Monday where a woman reporter her red Honda Accord was stolen. The victim had left her key in the ignition while in the store and when she returned the car was gone, according to a police report.

Police reviewed surveillance tapes and saw a heavy set white female get into the drivers seat of the Accord and a skinny white male get into the passenger seat, the report said. The suspects then drove off.

A little while later another officer was alerted to a car matching the stolen vehicle’s description driving down Highway 17 in North Myrtle Beach, the report said. The officer tried to stop the car around 27th Avenue South, but the suspects sped up and circled back and headed south on Highway 17 Bypass, the report said.

The suspects exited onto Highway 22 West and reached speeds of 100 mph, police said. The suspects exited onto Highway 31 North and sped up to 120 mph, the report said.

Police followed the suspects on Highway 9 Eastbound and then Highway 90 East, heading south, police said. Police deployed stop sticks near Lee’s Landing Road in Conway where the suspects’ vehicle tires deflated.

Both suspects were arrested when the car stopped, the report said.

Officers found a clear plastic bag in Wilbanks’ front pocket that tested positive as black tar heroin, police said.

Flippin told police she drove her grandfather’s car to Myrtle Beach where it ran out of gas, so she and Wilbanks walked to the gas station where the Accord was left, police said. Flippin told police she took the car, ran from police and only stopped because the tires deflated, the report said.

Both suspects are at the J. Reuben Long Detention Center awaiting bond.

This story was originally published September 29, 2015 at 3:20 PM with the headline "Two arrested after leading Horry County police on vehicle chase."