Atlantic Beach Police Chief arrested
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Atlantic Beach Police Chief arrested
The Atlantic Beach Police Chief was arrested Wednesday morning by Horry County Police.
Courtesy: J Ruben Long Detention Center
Atlantic Beach Police Chief Randy Rizzo arrested Wednesday morning.
Published: October 28, 2009
Updated: October 28, 2009
The Atlantic Beach Police Chief was arrested Wednesday morning by Horry County Police.
According to an incident report, an officer observed Chief Randy Rizzo, 39 of Conway, staggering around in a parking lot of the Food Lion shopping center near Myrtle Ridge Road and Highway 544. The officer said Rizzo was headed towards a truck parked near the Sonic restaurant, and the officer then pulled his marked patrol car over to the truck and approached Rizzo.
He asked Rizzo if he had been drinking, and after first denying it, Rizzo then admitted he had, after the officer told him he saw him staggering around.
In the report, the officer said Rizzo asked him at least twice if the officer knew who he was. When Rizzo told the officer he was going to call for a ride, the officer told him to not be seen driving again that night, and left.
A short time later, the officer saw Rizzo drive his truck by, and he pulled him over, and this time called for a supervisor.
The supervisor arrived on scene, and Rizzo was arrested and charged with public disorderly conduct.
According to booking reports at J Ruben Long Detention Center, Rizzo was booked at 3:04 a.m. and charged also with public intoxication.
He was released less than hour later at 4:03 a.m.
News13 placed a call to Chief Rizzo on Wednesday morning, but he did not answer.
Count on scnow.com and News 13 for information on this developing story as soon as it becomes available.
Reader Reactions
Booked & released , in 59 minutes ? I thought all “ Drunks “ were held for atleast 8 hours ? Driving and no DUI ?
He would first have to be charged with DUI to even be offered the breath test. Probably more of a case that he was not on a roadway driving, he was in a parking lot. However you can be charged with DUI in a parking lot or on private property.
Scarecrow brings up a very good point, but since Eric Walters never tells us whether Rizzo refused testing or even what the name of the arresting officer was, we cannot even begin to know what really happened. I am of the belief that these so called reporters do little more than copy poorly written police reports and seldom go to the trouble to actually ask anyone, any part of the who, what, when, where, why and how of the story. I too would really like to know if he refused and thus was not charged or if he is getting special treatment. But most of all I want to know why Atlantic Beach fired him in the first place and then hired him back and what they are going to do now, in light of his resent arrest?
Throw the book at this guy,nobody is above the law,especially a public servant!!!
It may be possible that the suspect refused a sobriety test in any form, thus resulting in the police being left only the option of other charges. One does not escape punishment by doing so, the driving license is gone for 6 months by refusal. Such refusal to take part in your own conviction is proper under the US Constitution. And it should be.
I ask again.Why no DUI charge?
Nightshift…what exactly leads you to believe that there are less drugs and crime in AB than “ANY” other community in NMB? I recently did a drainage survey of the “strip” and the vagrants and steretypical “druggie” looking people were fairly easy to find…not everywhere you look and certainly not the only ones I encounter working in those communities, but considering the size of the area I think its safe to say that it’s not the most crime free community in NMB. Like the word trashy or not…its fits the majority of the homes, streets, and buildings that occupy the area…
First Liz Gilland gets VIP treatment and now its Randy Rizzo. All the while when one of us citizens gets pulled over it would be a DUI or a ticket for sure. Good ‘ol boys & girls gone wild…Horry County baby!
Rizzo was fired last year. Now it looks as if they should have never re-hired him. If they had not re-hired him then we would not have to listen to Jan use words like trashiness when referring to this small quiet community of sweet little old people as if Myrtle Beach and Horry County did not have many communities that are not only trashy but are still filled with crime and drugs. I believe that there is now less crime and drugs in Atlantic Beach than any other community in North Myrtle Beach. Maybe now the people will get some long over due answers, as to just what did happen in Atlantic Beach with Rizzo. He was fired right? They did hire him back, right? So why was he fired and just how do they explain re-hiring him?
Just how outrageously wrong would it be if the so called town leaders were to allow this man to continue serving on what little of a police force they have?
Exactly, why not a DUI charge? Professional curtesy gone to far?
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