Statement on Officers Involved in Wrongful Detainment Lawsuit by North Myrtle Beach Police
A recent federal lawsuit has been filed against the City of North Myrtle Beach, Police Chief Dana Crowell, and two police officers, Mike Pacileo and Kayla Wallace. In response to this, the North Myrtle Beach Police Department has announced the current employment status of the accused officers.
The department reported on Wednesday that officers Pacileo and Wallace are still on active duty.
The Case Background
An 18-year-old recent high school graduate, Hemingway, has named the officers, the City, and Police Chief Crowell in the federal civil rights lawsuit. According to the lawsuit, Hemingway was stopped by the officers who then allegedly forced her to exit her vehicle, walk backwards towards them at gunpoint, and then proceeded to handcuff her. This occurred despite the fact that her car and license plate did not match the description of the stolen car the officers were looking for.
About the Officers
Pacileo has been with the department since 1992, and was recently honored by being named the ‘Optimist Club Officer of the Year.’ His co-officer, Wallace, joined the North Myrtle Beach Police Department in 2021, and was recognized last year for her role in arresting a kidnapping and shooting suspect.
Body Camera Footage
Three minutes of footage from Wallace’s body camera was released, documenting the encounter with Hemingway. It’s worth noting that just before Wallace exited her vehicle, drew her weapon, and instructed Hemingway to back up towards her, she can be heard commenting that Hemingway’s car “isn’t it”.
Alleged Acknowledgement of Error
The lawsuit claims that the officers quickly recognized their error after Hemingway was detained, realizing they had pulled over the wrong car. This realization was reportedly captured on the police body camera footage. The lawsuit further alleges that Hemingway’s car was searched “without sufficient probable cause or a warrant.”
Details of the Lawsuit
The lawsuit was filed a month after Hemingway’s wrongful detainment, which occurred while she was on her way to a graduation celebration with friends. The suit alleges that police pulled over Hemingway while she was driving a dark grey Dodge Charger. However, the vehicle they were searching for was a silver Dodge Challenger with a different license plate, unassociated with Hemingway.
Updates on this case will be provided as they emerge.
Author: STAFF HERE MYRTLE BEACH
The HERE Myrtle Beach Staff Writers are a collaborative team of journalists, editors, and local contributors passionate about delivering accurate, timely information to the Myrtle Beach community. As part of the HEREcity.com Network, which powers over 100 U.S. city sites including HEREcolumbia.com, our staff draws on collective experience in South Carolina journalism to cover everything from business sales and real estate developments to dining deals and community initiatives. Our Expertise and Background Local Roots in Myrtle Beach Our team includes lifelong Myrtle Beach residents and SC natives with deep knowledge of the area’s history, economy, and culture. We’ve covered key events like the recent developments along the Grand Strand, Myrtle Beach’s tourism and hospitality industry, and growth in local education sectors (e.g., Coastal Carolina University programs). Collective Experience With over 50 combined years in journalism, our staff has backgrounds in print, digital media, and community reporting. We prioritize fact-based stories, drawing from sources like the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, city government records, and on-the-ground interviews. Commitment to Quality Every article is a group effort, involving research, editing, and verification to ensure reliability. We adhere to journalistic standards, citing credible sources and updating content as new details emerge.
