Last Updated on 12/4/2008

Published on 5/30/2008

When Georgetown police were dispatched to a Prince Street location because of children being left home alone, they had no idea the deplorable conditions they would discover. The children — ages 13 and 4 — were not actually alone. A 23-year-old neighbor was with them while their mother went to the store. The first thing that was noticed was there was no electricity or water in the home. Police found rotting food inside the refrigerator. Some of the food was covered with “spiderweb-like mold,” the report states. On the stove, which was hooked to a gas cylinder, was a pot of beans. “The children actually appeared to be healthy with no signs of abuse or malnutrition,” the officer notes. The neighbor told police the woman and her children were staying in the home — which has holes in the ceiling and sagging floorboards — because they have nowhere else to live. Their former home burned down several months ago., He also said the children’s mother was recently released from the hospital and was trying to obtain housing through the Georgetown County Housing Authority. The children were transported to the police department, where they were met by their mother. Police contacted a representative of The Friendship Place who agreed to help the family find temporary shelter. Because of that, the children were allowed to stay with their mother. Sheriff’s Office • A man from Big Dam Swamp Road said his 7-year-old daughter was physically and verbally assaulted while on her schoolbus May 21. A boy who was on the bus reportedly pulled up her shirt over her head and said he and a friend were going to get a gun and go to her house and shoot her. The girl’s father said he was advised by his lawyer to file an incident report. The staff at Andrews Elementary School said they were investigating the matter. • The Georgetown County Sheriff’s Office is investigating an armed robbery reported Saturday night. A 21-year-old Pawleys Island man said he and another person were in a car on Waverly Road about 11:50 p.m. when a tan Malibu drove toward them and then pulled beside them. The driver of the Malibu started talking to the driver of the car the victim was in, who asked them to follow him to a road next to Waccamaw Elementary School. When they did, they exited their vehicles and the Malibu driver pulled out a handgun and stuck it in the face of the 21-year-old. He said he would kill the victim unless he gave him all his money. As the victim put his hand in his pocket for the cash, the suspect “got spooked” and warned him not to be reaching for a gun while repeatedly saying he was going to kill him. After giving the gunman $11, the victim ran through some woods to a house nearby. Deputies searched the area, but the robber was not located. • A $12,000 central heating and air conditioning unit was stolen from Browns Chapel United Methodist Church on Wesley Road in Murrells Inlet. The theft was discovered when several members arrived at the church May 21. Two air conditioning units were reported stolen from Murrells Inlet Investors on Highway 17 Bypass the same day. • A 36-year-old Pawleys Island woman said she has filed several complaints about her boyfriend’s soon-to-be ex-wife harassing her. The most recent report was taken Sunday. The woman said the 32-year-old suspect sent harassing e-mails and text messages. She also believes the woman — who is good with computers — has hacked into her home computer. In a separate report, the victim says the woman sent several text messages that stated “momma is closer than you think” and “how’s your bank account?” The victim said she has talked with the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) about the situation. • Deputies were able to intervene before a man could make good on a threat to kill himself May 23. The Andrews man reportedly told a friend it would be his last night alive and then placed a belt around his neck as if he were going to hang himself. His friend was able to get the belt from him. The man then started “grabbing anything he could to possibly hurt himself,” the report states. When he threatened to shoot himself, the man’s friend took control of the only gun in the house. When deputies arrived, they said the man was intoxicated and told them he would not commit suicide because he “loves himself too much,” according to the report. He then agreed to go with the deputies to the hospital for evaluation. • An Andrews man called 911 Sunday because of a dispute he was having with his wife. The 34-year-old man said he and his wife have been fighting “for a few years and (they) just cannot get along.” The argument Sunday was about the woman spending time with a friend. She said her husband kept arguing with her and would not let her go to bed. After talking to a deputy, the couple agreed to calm down for the night. Georgetown Police • A 29-year-old Georgetown man is accused of raping his ex-girlfriend. The woman called police at about 12:30 a.m. Monday and said her ex showed up at her apartment and forced her to have sex. She was taken to the hospital, where an assault test was conducted. No arrest has been made. • A woman staying at the Jameson Inn walked out of her room at 11:15 a.m. Saturday and saw someone had shot her car with a paintball gun. Damage is estimated at about $100. • Officers were dispatched to Georgetown Memorial Hospital emergency room at 8:30 p.m. Saturday because of an intoxicated man who was “swearing, talking in a loud voice and was disturbing other patients,” the report states. He was taken to the ER by ambulance after being found passed out next to his car. When the staff asked him to calm down, the man reportedly said, “I don’t have to listen to you. I am going to file a suit against you.” A witness said the man’s behavior was scaring other patients. He was arrested for disorderly conduct. Compiled by Scott Harper