Surfside Beach arrest led to release in Conway with no transportation, lawsuit claims
By Coastal Carolina News Staff Writer
A Spartanburg man has filed a lawsuit saying he was struck by a vehicle while walking back to Surfside Beach from J. Reuben Long Detention Center after his November 2024 release, a 25‑mile trip he began with no transportation, money, or phone.
According to the filing, Brian Oliver was arrested by Surfside Beach Police on November 4, 2024, on a drug‑possession charge that was later dismissed. Because Surfside Beach does not operate its own jail, officers transported him to J. Reuben Long Detention Center in Conway.
The lawsuit says Oliver posted bond and was released but had no means to secure a ride. He began walking along U.S. 17 toward Surfside Beach. While on the highway, he was struck by a driver identified in the complaint as Jarvis Wilson.
Oliver was hospitalized for 15 days with injuries that included a pelvic fracture, sepsis, and bleeding on the brain, according to the lawsuit.
The filing names multiple defendants: Horry County, the Horry County Sheriff’s Office, the Town of Surfside Beach, the South Carolina Department of Transportation, and the driver. It claims the agencies failed to ensure Oliver had reasonable means to return to his pre‑arrest location.
The lawsuit also notes that the Sheriff’s Office states inmates are responsible for their own transportation upon release, though indigent inmates may request a bus pass.
Oliver is seeking damages for the injuries he sustained and for what the complaint describes as failures in transportation procedures following his release.
Coastal Carolina News is the updated branding for bcdollarsaver.com.
© 2026 CoastalCarolinaNews.com. All rights reserved
