BENNETTSVILLE, S.C. (WPDE) — More than a dozen officers investigated a prank and false calls at Walmart stores in Bennettsville and Florence.
Bennettsville police had their entire night shift respond to the incident Friday night of a person inside a bathroom at Walmart with a gun, which turned out to be a prank.
Florence police sent 9 officers and one deputy this past Saturday night at the Walmart on Beltline Drive in Florence to investigate false claims of a man with a gun.
Officers said because of the seriousness of the claims, they had to treat each situation like it involved an active shooter.
"The law enforcement resources aren’t the same as they were five years ago. I think if you look across the Pee Dee in general you would see that. Our numbers are just not what they’re used to be unfortunately. But, it’s crucial when you’ve got your whole shift tied up on a call like that. Because it’s not something you can just go in and go, OK there is no guy with a gun we are leaving. I mean, there is a process and procedure that we have to go through. Before we can open that store back up. Before we can clear that incident. I feel confident and comfortable enough for people to come back in. We have to clear every room. Check every aisle. Absolutely, we leave no stone unturned in a situation like that. Because you can have the assailant in their hiding in racks of clothes. Or behind an aisle or something. Until we get 100%, definitively rule out, that it was a prank. You...
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