‘We’re not going to be quiet:’ Myrtle Beach Residents Address Neighborhood Crime; City Takes Action
In South Carolina, a series of crime incidents in the residential area of Myrtle Beach has provoked an outpouring of concern and frustration from locals. Six neighborhoods initiated a community watch meeting on Wednesday, with Ramsey Acres being one of the participating locations.
“Intimidation by Gunshot Noises”
“We have people who will just purposely yell out as they’re walking down the street. They’ll make gunshot noises and stuff as a form of intimidation,” said Jim Henry, a Ramsey Acres resident. Incidents of hoarding, suspected illegal rentals, and prostitution represent some of the issues appeared to have worsened during the pandemic.
City Action
Expanding beyond intimidation tactics, there have been a couple of drug raids in the neighborhood. The situation has escalated to the point where realities of unwanted roamers, possibly high on drugs, have habituated people to constant lock-ins. Myrtle Beach Assistant City Manager Josh Bruegger stated that four houses, including one on Poplar Drive, with junk littered in the front yard, were primarily at the receiving edge of these concerns. This prompted Myrtle Beach Mayor Brenda Bethune to send a letter ordering a 7-day window for cleaning up the premises before the city stepped in.
Investigation On-going
“We have invested a lot of resources there over the last couple of months since this came to our attention. From construction services to the police department, to code enforcement,” said Bruegger. The Myrtle Beach Police have launched investigations into the possibility of narcotic dealings and prostitution in the area. However, Bruegger acknowledged the challenges of accumulating evidence in residential crimes, stating, “A lot of people coming from a house in and of itself isn’t against the law, and so we have to prove that there’s something else going out there.”
Lighting and Clean-up Measures
To counter these issues, authorities are collaborating with Santee Cooper to increase lighting in the area, a measure aimed at deterring crime. The city is also arranging a city-wide clean-up scheduled for March 30, with one of the sites being Ramsey Acres.
Residents Determined to Fight Back
Fear of retaliation has silenced many residents, but Henry insists that silence will only perpetuate the problem. “We’re not going to be quiet. We know we’re worried about having our cars egged, our tires slashed, just stuff thrown at our house. We’re beyond that now. You’re affecting my quality of life,” he vowed.
Stay tuned as we continue to follow this developing story, bringing you updates as they become available. Reporting from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, this is HERE News Network, your trusted source for local news.
