South Carolina woman mouthes ‘help me,’ aids search for shooter
South Carolina Woman Mouths “Help Me” to Officer, Leads to Arrest in Shooting
A quick-thinking South Carolina woman helped law enforcement catch a suspect in a shooting by silently communicating with an officer during a traffic stop. Officer Kayla Wallace was on routine patrol in Myrtle Beach on the morning of May 28 when she pulled over a white Jeep that ran a red light. The North Myrtle Beach Police Department reports that the female driver, who has not been publicly identified, mouthed “help me” repeatedly to Wallace while the male passenger was distracted. Wallace acted on the signal, removing the male suspect from the car and taking him into custody inside her patrol vehicle. The driver then divulged that the man had been involved in a shooting. Police immediately broadcast information and the vehicle description over the radio, leading to Bates’s arrest in connection with an incident on North Kings Highway.
The suspect has been identified as 29-year-old Collins Xavier Manning Bates, a Columbia resident. Police found a pistol during the stop that was hidden under his seat. Bates now faces a list of charges including attempted murder, kidnapping, and possession of a weapon during a violent crime. Bates is still being held in custody at the J. Reuben Long Detention Center.
FAQs:
What happened in this incident?
A woman driving a white Jeep was pulled over in Myrtle Beach on May 28 by Officer Kayla Wallace, who had observed her run through a red light. During the traffic stop, the woman silently mouthed “help me” repeatedly to Wallace while the male passenger was distracted. Wallace was able to apprehend the male suspect and, after questioning the driver, was able to determine that he had been involved in a recent shooting. Police were able to use this information to arrest the suspect, later identified as Collins Xavier Manning Bates.
What charges does Bates face?
Bates is facing multiple charges related to his involvement in the shooting, including attempted murder, kidnapping, and possession of a weapon during a violent crime, and unlawful possession of a pistol.
Where is Bates being held?
Bates is currently being held in custody at the J. Reuben Long Detention Center.
Shooter Hunt in South Carolina Assisted by Woman Mouthing ‘Help Me’
A woman from South Carolina helped authorities apprehend a suspected shooter after she mouthed “help me” to an officer during a traffic stop. Officer Kayla Wallace, of the North Myrtle Beach Police Department, made the stop on May 28 after a white Jeep disregarded a red light at an intersection in Myrtle Beach. While questioning the female driver, Wallace noticed that the male passenger was not following her conversation and grew suspicious. The driver then mouthed “help me” repeatedly to Wallace, causing her to remove the man from the vehicle and place him in her patrol car. The passenger was identified as Collins Xavier Manning Bates, 29, of Columbia, and a subsequent radio call described a vehicle similar to Bates’ and linked to a shooting. Bates was found to be in possession of a pistol, which was found under his seat in the Jeep. He is currently in custody at the J. Reuben Long Detention Center on multiple charges, including attempted murder and kidnapping.