MYRTLE BEACH, SC — A pre‑dawn traffic stop near 21st Avenue North led to the arrest of a Myrtle Beach man early Thursday after officers said they discovered multiple violations during the encounter.
Police said the stop occurred around 1:04 a.m. in the area of 21st Avenue North and Oak Street, where officers pulled over a vehicle they reported to be in poor mechanical condition. During the investigation, officers identified the driver as 37‑year‑old Michael Thomas Jay Hale.
According to MBPD, Hale was taken into custody after officers determined he did not have a valid driver’s license. Police also noted the vehicle was allegedly not safe to operate, citing mechanical issues that prompted the initial stop.
In addition to the arrest, officers issued citations connected to the incident. Those citations reference state codes related to operating a vehicle in unsafe mechanical condition and driving without a license.
The case was logged at the same time as the stop, and police records indicate both the arrest and citations stemmed from the same encounter.
All individuals charged or cited are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. Case details may change as court proceedings move forward.
© 2026 CoastalCarolinaNews.com. All rights reserved.
Be the first to comment