A Myrtle Beach police detective’s career ended over what reportedly began as a smelly office microwave dispute and escalated into an alleged gun threat inside the department briefing room.
Michael Debiase, 46, was arrested June 2 after authorities said he pulled his department-issued firearm from its holster while inside the Myrtle Beach Police Department and pointed it at another officer.
The alleged confrontation was tied to another officer heating fish in a communal microwave, according to the New York Post, which cited an arrest warrant.
Debiase, who worked as a detective for the department, was charged with pointing and presenting a firearm at a person. Police did not disclose whether the weapon was loaded during the alleged incident.
After the confrontation, Debiase was placed on administrative leave while the department’s Office of Professional Standards and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division reviewed what happened.
The Myrtle Beach Police Department later said it had “separated employment” with Debiase after the internal review uncovered multiple policy violations.
In a statement posted to Facebook, the department said the case involved Debiase “removing his department-issued firearm from its holster while in the PD briefing room and pointing it at another officer.”
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The department said investigators identified “several policy violations” during the professional standards review.
Police leadership said officers are entrusted with “professionalism, integrity, sound judgment, and respect for others.”
“This incident does not reflect the values demonstrated by the men and women of the Myrtle Beach Police Department every day. However, it does demonstrate our commitment to accountability and our willingness to address conduct that falls short of our expectations,” the department said.
“The Myrtle Beach Police Department takes violations of policy and professional standards seriously. We remain committed to maintaining the trust of our community by holding our employees accountable and ensuring they uphold the high standards expected of those who serve the City of Myrtle Beach.”
Court records indicate Debiase was taken to the J. Reuben Long Detention Center in Horry County following his arrest and was released later the same day without bail being set. The case will next be heard Aug. 14, according to court records.
South Carolina law treats pointing a firearm at another person as a felony, with punishment of up to five years in prison or a fine set by the court.
A separate South Carolina case involved a far more frightening encounter, after authorities said a man pretended to be law enforcement, handcuffed a young woman and forced her into his car before she escaped.
Jonathan Willard, 39, was arrested last Friday after the young woman fled from his car and ran for help along a rural road.
He was charged with kidnapping and impersonating a law enforcement officer.
The victim had graduated from high school the day before, according to the Aiken County Sheriff’s Office.
After spending the night at her father’s house, she was walking to her mother’s home the next morning when Willard allegedly approached her.
Authorities said Willard claimed to be a police officer, handcuffed her and placed her in the back seat of his vehicle.
Truck driver Anthony Moore, 53, was driving nearby when the young woman suddenly jumped from Willard’s vehicle and darted across the road.
Moore said Willard used the car to pursue her as she tried to escape.
“She would run on one side of the road, he’d try to run her over, then she’d run to the other side, and he’d try to run her over there,” Moore explained to WRDW.
The girl managed to reach Moore’s vehicle and begged him to help.
“She says, “Help me, help me, he’s trying to kidnap me,”” Moore detailed.
Moore said Willard tried to convince him he was a legitimate officer.
The young woman immediately contradicted him.
“She jumped in my car and said, “No, he is not. He tried to kidnap me, sir,”” Moore revealed.
Another driver, identified in local records as Glen, also stopped after spotting the roadside chaos.
He noticed the young woman was handcuffed and told dispatchers the man did not appear to be a real officer.
“Yeah, he can’t be legit,” Glen noted to 911 dispatchers. “Hell no, because he’s in a white Cadillac.”
Willard allegedly left the scene after the two men intervened.
Before deputies arrived, Moore and Glen removed the handcuffs from the young woman.
Moore noted that the victim was terrified and struggling to explain the ordeal.
“She said she graduated yesterday, she was frantic, she wasn’t talking how I’m talking to you now,” Moore said.
He said the young woman described being rushed by a man who claimed police authority.
“She said he ran up to her and said, “I’m with the cops,” handcuffed her, and threw her in the backseat.”
Moore later said he believed the timing of his arrival was not accidental.
“Delayed divine timing, there is an appointed place for us to be at an appointed time,” he told the outlet.
Willard is being held without bail at the Aiken County Detention Center.
Maj. Jason Griffin with the Aiken County Sheriff’s Office said alleged police impersonation cases are uncommon, and this one stood out.
“These are extremely rare,” Griffin said. “I’ve done this for a long time, and I haven’t seen one like this,” he added.
Griffin said plainclothes deputies generally do not make minor enforcement stops on foot or in unmarked circumstances.
“If they see a traffic violation or see somebody walking down the street committing a violation, but it’s a minor violation, they’re going to call in a marked patrol car to make that stop,” Griffin pointed out.
For anyone unsure whether they are dealing with a real officer, Griffin advised asking for a badge number, requesting photo identification and calling dispatch.
“The easiest way to verify someone is a law enforcement officer [is] by calling 911,” Griffin said.
