MBPD to increase presence, enforce curfew for minors after ‘disturbing’ incidents involving fireworks
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WMBF) – The Myrtle Beach Police Department is upping its presence in the community this weekend after what it calls “disturbing and dangerous” incidents involving fireworks on the Fourth of July.
In one case, police released jaw-dropping surveillance video that caught a large group of teenagers and young adults shooting fireworks at each other, neighbors, homes, and cars at Ragin Street and Vereen Avenue.
Police said it also caused a brush fire near a home, putting people inside in danger.
Authorities said when Myrtle Beach police officers and firefighters responded, fireworks were then shot at them.
“It was a lot of noise; it was very, very disturbing,” said Robert Nesmith, who lives in the area.
Another neighbor, who wanted to remain anonymous, told WMBF News she likes to sit on her porch, but at night, she usually stays inside.
“Late at night, you hear all the fireworks, it gets kind of scary,” she said. “I really get concerned for the children and the kids out there at night. I pray that no one gets hurt.”
In a second case, a teenage boy was hurt when fireworks and a gun were shot at a family gathering on Canal Street that he was attending.
Then in a third case, a young person showed up to the hospital after fireworks badly hurt them.
WMBF News is working to learn exactly where each of those cases took place.
“All of this is unacceptable, disturbing, and dangerous. This is not ‘harmless fun with fireworks,’” the Myrtle Beach Police Department said. “These are criminal acts that hurt people and damage property.
Police Chief Amy Prock is now calling on the community to do better.
“It’s very concerning; it’s concerning for our community members, our neighbors, obviously for public safety and public safety response,” Prock told WMBF News. “Public safety is a shared responsibility. This is exactly why we need, as a community, come together to address it.”
Prock added that her department is used to fireworks calls around the Fourth of July, but this year seems different.
“We’ve had issues where people have shot fireworks at property and fireworks at individuals before, but the intentional neglect of safety, not to this level,” Prock said.
The Myrtle Beach Police Department said it will provide a heavier-than-normal presence in the community throughout the rest of the weekend. It is also enforcing a curfew for minors between midnight and 6 a.m. The department added that noise and fireworks laws will also be strictly enforced.
“We are concerned that this type of behavior will continue and more people will be seriously injured if we don’t work together to put an immediate end to it. We need help from our community,” the Myrtle Beach Police Department posted.
The department is investigating each case and said that those responsible, as well as the parents or guardians who allow it, will be identified and held accountable.
Police are asking anyone for information in each of these to help identify people involved in the crimes. Anyone providing information that leads to an arrest can receive an award of up to $1,000.
You can submit a tip by calling 1-888-CRIME-SC or by calling 843-918-1382.
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