South Carolina Detective Fired After Gun Incident

A detective in South Carolina has been terminated following an incident where he allegedly pointed a police-issued firearm at a fellow officer within a police station. According to reports from arrest warrants, the confrontation stemmed from a dispute over using a microwave to heat fish.

Michael DiBiase, who is 46 years old, worked with the Myrtle Beach Police Department. He was apprehended on June 2 and faces charges for pointing a firearm at another person.

Reports indicate that DiBiase reacted angrily when another officer was microwaving fish in the shared station space, leading him to draw the weapon. The Myrtle Beach Police Department confirmed that they ended his employment after a thorough internal investigation into the incident.

A statement released by the department detailed that DiBiase had “removed a department-issued firearm from its holster and pointed it at another officer while in the PD briefing room.” However, it remains unclear if the weapon was loaded.

He was placed on administrative leave right after the event, pending an inquiry by the Myrtle Beach Police Department’s Office of Professional Standards and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division. The investigation uncovered multiple policy breaches.

The department emphasized that its officers are expected to uphold “professionalism, integrity, sound judgment, and respect for others.” They added that this incident does not represent the values upheld by the Myrtle Beach Police Department but rather demonstrates their commitment to accountability and addressing conduct that falls short of expectations.

Pointing a firearm at another individual is classified as a felony under South Carolina law, which can result in a fine or a prison sentence of up to five years.

DiBiase was booked at the J. Reuben Long Detention Center in Horry County and released within a few hours, with no bail set. He is scheduled for a court appearance on August 14.