News13 looks into how Amber Alerts are issued in South Carolina

HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW)- In the last three weeks two young girls have been reported missing in Myrtle Beach and Florence County but Amber Alerts were not issued in either case.

News13 spoke with local law enforcement about the requirements to issue Amber Alerts. Officers say it’s something determined by SLED.

“Amber Alert is a fabulous tool that has helped locate an unknown number of individuals that have been missing but it also has a very strict set of guidelines,” FCSO Major Mike Nunn said.

Here’s the criteria needed to issue and Amber Alert according to SLED’s website:

•The law enforcement agency believes that the child has been abducted: taken from their environment unlawfully, without authority of law, and without permission from the child’s parent or legal guardian.

•The child is 17 years old or younger, and the law enforcement agency believes the child is in immediate danger of serious bodily harm or death; or if the individual is 18 years old or older, and the law enforcement agency believes the individual is at greater risk for immediate danger of serious bodily harm or death because the individual possesses a proven physical or mental disability.

•All other possibilities for the victim’s disappearance have been reasonably excluded.

•There is sufficient information available to disseminate to the public that could assist in locating the victim, suspect, or vehicle used in the abduction.

•The child’s name and other critical data have been entered into NCIC.

Local law enforcement says that when a child is missing, there is no amount of time parents or caregivers need to make before filing a report. As soon as the agencies receive any information, an investigation will immediately begin.

“It’s an all hands on deck call. Everyone that has anything to do with the Sheriff’s Office at the time will respond and we will coordinate our efforts according to the facts,” Nunn said.

Officers say when report of a missing child comes in they immediately look at how long the child has been missing, if the child was abducted and then how the child disappeared. If the child is on foot, officers will also use bloodhound units.