Atlantic Beach mayor out on bond after hit-and run arrest
Aisha Khan/WBTW
Retha Pierce leaving J Reuben Long Detention Center after posting bond for $2,200 for a hit-and-run charge and failure to provide proof of insurance.
Another arrest in less than just three months for Atlantic Beach’s newly elected Mayor Retha Pierce.
Pierce showed up for a 9am bond hearing Saturday morning after Atlantic Beach Police arrested her Friday night for a hit and run accident.
According to police, the accident happened just after 1 p.m. Friday on US 17 Business near the 31st Avenue intersection, which is not too far away from the Atlantic Beach Town Hall.
In a police report Friday, the victim 51-year-old Dorothy Montgomery said she was driving south on US 17 when a white Chevrolet Trailblazer sideswiped her 2002 Ford Taurus.
Montgomery told police, she pulled over in the Excitement Video parking lot to inspect the damages to her car and saw “an unknown subject” stop her Chevrolet in the road, get out, then got back into the Chevrolet and drove away.
Police estimated the damages to Montgomery’s Ford at $2,000. Police said several witnesses identified and filed a sworn statement with officers, identifying the driver of the Chevrolet as Atlantic Beach Mayor Retha Pierce.
Responding Officers J. Jackson and C. Bryant saw Pierce in her Chevrolet pass through town “a few hours later,” and noticed damage to the front of Pierce’s SUV.
Officers later secured arrest warrants from a Horry County magistrate for Pierce’s arrest in connection to the crash.
Pierce was ordered to pay $2000.00 for hit-and-run charges and $200.00 for failure to provide proof of insurance.
News 13 spoke with Pierce’s pastor, the Rev. Wendi Price who along with several of other Pierce’s friends was present at the hearing. Price said the charge was an unfair treatment toward the mayor.
“We feel that harassment of her has been tremendously horrible, I’ve never in my life have seen a mayor be this disrespected. I would like to see at some point that this police department be under investigation as well as the councils who seem to not respect Ms. Pierce nor allow her to do her job as the mayor of the town of Atlantic Beach,” said Price.
As for Pierce she refused to talk about Saturday’s arrest and quickly ran to a waiting car after leaving the jail. Pierce is scheduled to appear in court on June 12th and July 31st.
—News 13’s reporter, Jody Barr contributed to this story article
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Reader Reactions
No it’s not about race, even though some ignorant people want to make it that way. This is about an out of control mayor and a town that has struggled for quite some time. I would like the town to be preserved because of its heritage but the circus side show should not be allowed to continue, and it seems that even the news providers are amused by the antics of Atlantic Beach officials.
This is hardly a race issue. This is a woman who KNOWINGLY left the scene of an automobile accident and then INTENTIONALLY did not report it…because she KNEW that she caused the problem and KNEW she DID NOT have car insurance. AND this is a town’s mayor!!?? Pitiful.
This is the REAL issue here.
for those who think she is being picked on, this is a grown woman and if she side swiped another veh then she knows the law and should have stopped anybody else would have been charged also with leaving the scene of an accident therefore she is not being picked on she let her stupity show on this case
Good Lord, can this woman do anything else to add more controversy and a negative reputation for this area of the Grand Strand? Can’t they impeach her?
I don’t care if she were purple with green stripes - her conduct is or at least should be unacceptable. I’m so glad I’m not from that area.
There is no such thing as an honest politition. The system is so corupt and until we stand up to them it is just going to get worse. The working man cant aford to run for office because he has to take care of his family.This is not a free country any more and until we say enough is enough and stand together to put a stop to all this then all we can do is watch them get by with it.
The “Black Pearl” of the Grand Strand. What a joke. Atlantic Beach is the “Black Eye” on our coast. The point that’s being missed is that Retha Pierce IS representative of the community. The town should have been dissolved long ago.
“We feel that harassment of her has been tremendously horrible, I’ve never in my life have seen a mayor be this disrespected. I would like to see at some point that this police department be under investigation as well as the councils who seem to not respect Ms. Pierce nor allow her to do her job as the mayor of the town of Atlantic Beach,” said Price.
Ever hear the expression"the best defense is a strong offense” Now her cronies are making her out as the victim!!! What gaul!!!I wonder if the police did a sobriety test after she side swiped the other car and left the scene of the crime? What about her failure to show insurance. Is the Mayor above the law?
I will contact our governor, I do so quite often, however any negative comment about anyone who is not “caucasian” will be labled as a “racist” comment and disreguarded.This has lead to the republician failure in the last election. You cannot serve “two” masters for you will love one and hate the other “says” the Bible.The Republicans were afraid to call a duck a duck and the Demacrats exists because of those ducks. I still think she will continue to walk and will be re-elected, unless I’m on the jury!
To southern: I have read your comment about the elections of the mayor for Atlantic Beach. Apparently that you are not happy with these elections and are willing to sit back and accept the outcome. You don’t have to accept the outcome nor tolerate it! You have a voice and you live in this town - then express your opinion! You have the right! Don’t just sit back and accept this woman as mayor because you don’t think that you have a say in this matter. You do! You have the right to express your opinion and I encourage you to do so. Contact Gov. Sandford and express your feelings. I have - and I have even receive a phone call from his office. The worst thing that you can do - is not express your opinion!
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