Violent crime rates dropping in Georgetown, Horry counties but DUIs rising, top prosecutor says

HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) — Georgetown and Horry counties are seeing a drop-off in violent crimes, but DUI arrests are trending upward, 15th Judicial Circuit Solicitor Jimmy Richardson said this week.

“It could be many, many things. More law enforcement attention on it,” Richardson said in his weekly video update to constituents.

On Monday, 49-year-old Nikki Anne Eddy was sentenced to nine years in prison after pleading guilty to felony DUI resulting in the 2021 death of motorcyclist Michael Allen.

Eddy crossed the center line on Highway 90 and struck Allen, 72, head on. Her blood-alcohol level at the time of the crash was .148

The crash happened on Sept. 2, 2021, in North Myrtle Beach, where Eddy crossed the center line on Highway 90 and hit a motorcycle head-on, killing the driver, 72-year-old Michael Allen of Galivants Ferry. Eddy’s blood-alcohol level at the time of the crash was .148, authorities said.

Richardson said Georgetown County saw 171 DUI arrests in 2022, compared to 314 last year — an 83% jump. In Horry County, the figure rose year-over-year from 1,307 to 1,702 — a 30% uptick.

Despite a regional reduction in violent crimes, Horry County remains near the top statewide in those categories, according to the South Carolina Law Enforcement’s 2023 annual report.

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Adam Benson joined the News13 digital team in January 2024. He is a veteran South Carolina reporter with previous stops at the Greenwood Index-Journal, Post & Courier and The Sun News in Myrtle Beach. Adam is a Boston native and University of Utah graduate. Follow Adam on X, formerly Twitter, at @AdamNewshound12 . See more of his work here .

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