Man clings to Garden City Pier after police chase

GARDEN CITY, SC (WMBF) - One man has been taken into custody in Horry County following an early morning police chase that ended in the waters off of Garden City.

Lt. Raul Denis, spokesman for the Horry County Police Department, said the chase began after officers received a domestic violence complaint at 12:15 a.m. A witness told responding officers a man pushed a woman to the ground along Seabreeze Drive and fled the scene in a silver SUV.

Police were able to locate the SUV in an immediate area around Seabreeze Drive and attempted to stop the driver for questioning. A chase between officers and the driver ensued after the driver refused to pull over.

An incident report revealed police pursued the man along various side streets and US-17 Business in Garden City before the suspect drove on to the beach and exited his car. Police claim the man ran into the ocean and began swimming away from shore in an attempt to elude police.

The man was captured by responding officers in the surf at the end of the Garden City Pier.

EMS transported the suspect to the Waccamaw ER, where he received treatment for minor cuts sustained from hitting pier poles covered with barnacles.

Following medical treatment, Horry County Police transported the man to the J. Reuben Long Detention Center.

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