Local law enforcement officers did a fantastic job defusing a potentially lethal situation last week.

Last Monday, police arrested a 34-year old man after finding him in possession of gunpowder and two PVC pipes. The pipes were approximately six-inches long and had end caps. Police had stopped the man near 5th Avenue North and Chester Street in Myrtle Beach after recognizing him as someone against whom there had been a bench warrant issued.

A second arrest was made — that of a 55-year-old man — a day later. Police allegedly found bomb components in a search of the second suspect’s home. Police said the search was conducted after the first suspect told them that the second suspect gave him the pipe bombs that he was carrying when arrested.

Now. I’m not going to post the mug shots of the suspects. They look like two guys who might have been planning to blow up a trash can to snort the ash and refuse. If we learned one thing from the Boston Marathon massacre, however, it is that the most crude of devices can lead to widespread devastation. Myrtle Beach police officers should be commended for disarming the putrid, alleged perps before anyone was injured.

The arrests reminded me once again that law enforcement officers put their lives on the line every day. Even traffic stops that start as routine can end in tragedy. On Dec. 29, 2002, Myrtle Beach Police Officer Joseph McGarry, 28, was shot and killed in a parking lot on North Kings Highway.

I shouldn’t have needed reminding of the inherent dangers of police work. My grandfather, Gordon Hufnagle — then a public safety officer in Lewsburg, PA — drowned in 1972 while trying to save others from flood waters during Hurricane Agnes. He’d been the chief of police in the same town for 28 years before being demoted, in part due to age discrimination, to the public safety position.

Yes, I’ve been known to criticize those sworn to protect and serve us — often for good reason. Journalists have a job to do, and it doesn’t always involve writing glorified public relations articles like the majority of those published in our local paper, The Tidal Eyechart. Journalists are watchdogs of democracy.

But sometimes you’ve got to give credit where credit is due. This time it goes to the men and ladies in blue. Thanks.

As I walked by, I did a double take.  There was a dog in the car!  What the heck?!  Do we not hear about pets dying due to heat exposure in cars every year.  I had this moment of, “Should I call the police on the police?” That’s when I realized  that the dog in the driver’s seat was a big, stuffed German Shepherd.  From the rearview mirror was a thermometer, displaying the internal temperature of the car. 

It was 10:18 a.m.  The outdoor temperature was 86 degrees.  Inside the car it was 108 degrees.  While it’s hard to see, the sign says, “Warning, heat kills pets.  Fines up to $1092 and/or 30 days imprisonment”

I was totally duped.  The dog trapped in the car was a decoy – and I was relieved!  I know this isn’t a true “for families” post, but, in my opinion, when you take on the responsibility of a pet, they should be part of your family.  I’m hopeful that passing on this clever awareness campaign from the Myrtle Beach Police Department will help keep pets just a little safer during warm weather days.

The Sun News is reporting that police were called to the home of 33-year-old Alesha Sommer Babcock and 37-year-old Wayne Emmanuel Malcol Beachem at approximately 10:49 p.m. on Sunday. The couple has resided together for several months, with Beachem’s son joining them one week ago.

When they arrived on the scene, they saw Beachem sitting outside in a Suzuki, while Babcock stood in the doorway.

He informed authorities that both of them had been drinking at the Coastal Uncorked festival held earlier that day. When they learned of a friend’s passing, they returned to the residence.

It was at that point Babcock began to hit Beachem with an inflatable hammer, causing his son to get upset and retreat. The two fought verbally, then physically.

At one point, Babcock grabbed a real hammer and tried to assault him with it. Police later found the hammer in the bushes where Beachem had discarded it earlier.

Babcock reportedly told the police she was trying to kill him by swinging the hammer.

Both were arrested after police took their statements and noticed physical injuries and property damage.

WMBF-TV reporter Ashley Johnson was doing a live report during the 11 p.m. newscast Wednesday when the suspect, Justin Moore of Upper Marlboro, Md., pushed her on live television, grabbed the microphone and began to curse.

“I am that (N-word),” he said before the station cuts away.

According to a police report obtained by CBS Charlotte, Johnson told Myrtle Beach authorities that there were about five men standing near her when she was about to go on-air.

Johnson told police that Moore almost pushed her to the ground when ripping the microphone away from her. After the incident happened, Moore took off running.

Police — who were able to get pictures and video of the suspect – located him a short time later. Police say Moore tried to flee but he was immediately apprehended.

Moore has been charged with assault, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. He was booked into Myrtle Beach Jail.

AGE:  21

SEX:  Female

RACE:  White

HAIR:  Brown w/blonde highlights

EYES:  Blue

HEIGHT:  5’0″

WEIGHT:  103 lbs

PIERCED ears, nose

WEARING:  White/black/gray/teal top, black shorts, white flip flops

Brittanee went missing during vacation.  Her cell phone gave off it’s last signal in the Georgetown, SC area.

MISSING SINCE:  April 25, 2009

MISSING FROM:  Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

CONTACT:

Myrtle Beach Police Department 843-918-1000

CRIME STOPPERS, SOUTH CAROLINA 888-CRIME-SC

NCMEC 1-800-THE-LOST

BRITTANEE’S WEB SITE

Help Find Brittanee