A North Myrtle Beach police officer is being praised by her colleagues for her quick-thinking heroism during a particularly difficult traffic stop.
On May 28th, Officer Monica Wallace was on patrol along U.S. Highway 17 when she noticed a white Jeep run a red light. Suspecting this to be more than a routine violation, Officer Wallace stopped the vehicle. Immediately, the driver appeared to be in distress and mouthed for, “Help Me.”
After removing the man from the car, the woman that was driving explained to Officer Wallace that the man had just shot someone. A BOLO (Be On the Lookout) alert was then put out on the radio for another car that had allegedly been involved in a shooting that had taken place outside of The Waterway House restaurant.
The man, identified as 29-year-old Collins Bates, was arrested and linked to the shooting. According to the Horry County police report Bates had shot someone in the stomach then forced the woman into the Jeep as a getaway driver. The gun found in the car matched the caliber of the bullet casing that was discovered at the scene.
Bates has since been taken into custody and is currently being held without bond as he faces multiple charges, including attempted murder and kidnapping.
The North Myrtle Beach Police Department commented on the bravery of Officer Wallace and how lucky their department and the surrounding community is to have her safety-oriented diligence.