MBPD: Man assaulted at Broadway at the Beach; security doesn’t detain suspects

A man found his wallet was missing after he was beaten to unconsciousness at Broadway at the Beach Monday night, and Myrtle Beach police noted the security there didn’t detain the men responsible, according to a police report.

Officers were already at Celebrity Circle responding to a separate incident when they were flagged down about 2:48 a.m. Monday by two men, one of whom was bleeding and reporting he was jumped by a group of men, police said.

The 25-year-old victim told police a man approached him and asked “You a fighter?” The victim said he wasn’t and didn’t want trouble, but the suspect continued to challenge him and ask if he was a fighter, according to a Myrtle Beach police report.

The victim finally said he was a fighter, but didn’t want any trouble. The suspect then asked if he was a “tough guy” and continued to challenge him until a mutual fight broke out between the men, authorities said.

While the two men fought, another man came up behind the victim and struck him in the back of the head, and the victim fell to the ground, according to the report.

The suspects and their friends then left the area. The victim said he had his wallet, containing cash, credit cards, and his Florida weapon’s permit, before the incident, but didn’t have it afterward and wasn’t sure if it was taken during the incident.

Police said they reviewed surveillance footage that showed three Broadway security officers standing nearby when the fight was brewing. Two security officers attempted to step in between the men before the other suspect struck the victim in the back of the head, police said.

The crowd is seen advancing toward the victim after he was struck by another man, then the man who engaged the victim in fighting and the rest of the crowd are seen leaving the area. The first suspect meets with other suspect and “engages in celebratory actions,” according to the report.

Two security officers escort the suspects and crowd away from the area and out of camera view.

“At no point does any of the security officers on scene attempt to detain any of the parties involved,” the report states.

Police note one security guard “does not engage any parties involved at any point and does not appear to help the victim in any way,” according to the report.

The victim’s friend corroborated the victim’s story. He said he was standing between the crowd and the victim, trying to protect himself and the victim, after he was hit in the back of the head.

The victim signed a written statement and had his injuries photographed, but said he didn’t want to press charges.

Police said they spoke with one of the security guards, but said the other two weren’t available during the investigation.

Spokesperson Lei Gainer said Burroughs & Chapin has no comment at this time.

This story was originally published March 8, 2016 at 8:11 AM with the headline "MBPD: Man assaulted at Broadway at the Beach; security doesn’t detain suspects."