A police detective in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, has been fired and permanently stripped of his police certification after pulling his department-issued handgun on a colleague who microwaved fish in the office. Michael DeBiase, 46, admitted a charge of public disorderly conduct and was sentenced to 90 days of probation, fined $350 (around £265), and ordered to surrender his South Carolina police certification for good.
Incident at police headquarters
The incident occurred on May 30 at police headquarters in Myrtle Beach. According to court documents obtained by The Smoking Gun, the trouble began when a fellow officer heated up fish in the office microwave. DeBiase confronted the patrolman in the police department's briefing room over the resulting smell.
Instead of resolving the matter through discussion, the detective allegedly removed his weapon from its holster and pointed it at his colleague. An arrest warrant states that DeBiase confronted the officer 'about warming up fish in the microwave, causing an odour in the office'. The colleague, who has not been publicly identified, later gave a statement to investigators. DeBiase also provided an account of what happened, though details of his explanation have not been made public.
Investigation and charges
DeBiase was immediately placed on administrative leave while the department's Office of Professional Standards and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division investigated. The internal investigation uncovered a number of breaches of police policy, leading to his dismissal.
'This incident does not reflect the values demonstrated by the men and women of the Myrtle Beach Police Department every day,' the department said in a statement. DeBiase was arrested on June 2 and initially charged with pointing and presenting a firearm at a person, a felony under South Carolina law. He was booked into the J Reuben Long Detention Center in Horry County and subsequently released on $5,000 bail.
Resolution and consequences
The case was resolved on October 23, when DeBiase pleaded guilty to the reduced misdemeanour charge and received a conditional discharge. The arrangement means he can avoid having a conviction entered on his criminal record, provided that he complies with the court's various conditions. Should he breach those terms, the judge has the power to formally record a conviction.
His agreement to permanently surrender his police certification means his law enforcement career in South Carolina is over. Court documents do not reveal what kind of fish caused the trouble, or whether DeBiase's gun was loaded.
