MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WBTW)- Last week 15th Circuit Solicitor Jimmy Richardson served the owners of Jimmagan’s Sports Pub on North Kings Highway nuisance paper work.
The Solicitor says the decision comes after multiple shootings and more than a hundred calls to police since January of 2014.
Thursday morning, the owners of Jimmagan’s and the company that owns the property it rents appeared in court for a temporary hearing about the nuisance law.
Prosecutors with the Solicitor’s office say the goal of the hearing was to establish the business as a place that “continuously breach the peace” and has “repeated acts of unlawful possession or sale of controlled substances.”
Attorneys for Jimmagan’s began their opening statements saying the pub is being unfairly targeted by the nuisance abatement laws and the establishment has been around more than 20 years with a good reputation.
The Solicitor’s office had two officers with the Myrtle Beach Police Department and several investigators testify on their behalf.
According to the Myrtle Beach Police Department, officers were called to Jimmagan’s 129 times since the beginning of last year. Those calls for service include a shooting, armed robbery, weapons violations and assault. However, attorneys for Jimmagan’s were quick to point out that a significant amount of those calls were for minor offenses like speeding tickets and DUIs that were issued in front of the business and had no direct affiliation.
A big point of contention during the hearing was a shooting this August. Prosecutors showed the court surveillance video provided by the owner of Jimmagan’s. Their goal was to establish gang involvement in the incident and prove it has become a hang out spot for gangs.
Horry County Gang Investigator Lynn Baker testified her department has undercover officers who track where gang members frequent and in the last two years Jimmagan’s has become one of those locations.
“Through the gang investigation stuff, social media has been one of the outlets that we look at a lot. With our fake pages, have actually tracked these gang members and stuff where they’re hanging out at. Yes I do have some pictures of a member, two members that are folk nation that have ties to Mr. Sheedy,” Baker said.
Baker testified Mr. Sheedy’s grandson is affiliated with an area gang but acknowledged she was not aware of any other gang ties.
Baker also testified gangs have become an issue throughout Horry County and every time they close one bar another opens. In the last year the Solicitor has shut down places like LevelZ and Fan Tails both places linked to gangs.
Employees with Jimmagan’s told News13 proceedings wrapped up around 5:30pm and the judge wants to review all of the evidence before making a decision. They expect a decision tomorrow morning by 11:00am.
