Officer arrested for allegedly pointing gun at fellow cop over fish smell: Warrant
A now-former South Carolina police officer faces a felony charge for allegedly pointing his department-issued firearm at an officer during a confrontation over microwaved fish, according to authorities and an arrest warrant.
Michael Debiase, 46, was arrested Tuesday and charged with pointing and displaying a firearm at a person, according to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, which is investigating the incident.
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The shooting allegedly occurred Saturday in a briefing room at the Myrtle Beach Police Department, authorities said.
The arrest warrant alleges Debiase confronted a police officer who “caused an odor in the office by heating fish in the microwave.” stated. The arrest warrant alleges that during the confrontation, the detective “drew his department-issued handgun and pointed it at the other officer.”
Both officers testified, according to the arrest warrant. The identity of the other officer has not been publicly disclosed.
Jeffrey Collins/AP – PHOTO: Myrtle Beach Police emblem on March 28, 2023, in Columbia, South Carolina
Debiase was immediately placed on administrative leave pending investigations by the Myrtle Beach Police Department Office of Professional Standards and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, police said.
Myrtle Beach Police Department said: expression He announced Tuesday that he and Debiase had “recently parted ways.”
“Based on information learned during the Office of Professional Standards investigation, multiple policy violations were identified,” the Myrtle Beach Police Department said in a statement Tuesday. he said.
“This incident does not reflect the values that the men and women of the Myrtle Beach Police Department demonstrate every day,” the statement said. “But it demonstrates our commitment to accountability and our willingness to address behavior that falls short of our expectations.”
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Under South Carolina law, it is illegal to point a loaded or unloaded firearm at another person. Police did not say whether Debiase’s gun was loaded at the time of the alleged confrontation.
Debiase was taken to the detention center in Horry County, police said. His bond was set at $5,000 at Tuesday’s hearing, according to court records. His next hearing will be held on August 14.
No attorney information is mentioned in online court records. Debiase did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment.
