MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WBTW) – Police are actively investigating a gentlemens’ club in Myrtle Beach they say is operating as a brothel.
Officers with the Myrtle Beach Police Department were on the scene Friday afternoon at Derriere’s Gentlemen’s Club on Seaboard Street serving a search warrant.
Police say when they were investigating a shooting on Jan. 1, they uncovered evidence of additional criminal activity at the business.
A separate case was opened, and police identified more than 200 acts of apparent prostitution at the location. The acts involved multiple employees who participated in, or facilitated, the acts, police said.
“These hotbeds of criminal activity erode the safety of our residents and visitors,” said Chief Amy Prock. “The business was operating as a brothel as defined by South Carolina Law. We will not tolerate businesses who encourage or allow this kind of behavior.”
The investigation has led to arrest warrants for multiple persons involved with the business. The majority of the arrest warrants are related to apparent acts of prostitution.
On Friday night, police announced the names of seven people in custody, facing prostitution charges in the case:
- David Joseph Bean, 66, of Myrtle Beach – 183 counts of prostitution and one count of failure to report in connection with the shooting in January
- Jacey Lynne Birch, 41, of Conway – 183 counts of prostitution and one count of failure to report in connection with the shooting in January
- Joseph Bryan Hargadon, 62, of Longs – 61 counts of prostitution
- Heather Gay Beall, 35, of North Myrtle Beach – 31 counts of prostitution
- Matthew Jason Gough, 33, of Myrtle Beach – 21 counts of prostitution
- Eliza Blu Rivera, 30, of Miami, FL – 16 counts of prostitution
- Alexis Gail Morris, 21, of Conway – two counts of prostitution
(Left to right, bottom) Matthew Gough, Eliza Rivera, Alexis Morris (Source: Myrtle Beach jail)
We are working to get mugshots for all of those who are charged. Additional charges are likely, according to the police.
Several charges also stem from the original shooting in January, where staff members failed to contact the police and began to clean up an area identified as a crime scene before officers arrived.
The people who were arrested will be held at the Myrtle Beach Detention Center, pending a weekend bond hearing.
Count on News13 for updates at wbtw.com as we work to gather information.
The Myrtle Beach Police Department encourages anyone with information to come forward and call (843) 918-1382. Callers may remain anonymous.
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