Michael DeBiase, a 46-year-old detective with the Myrtle Beach Police Department, South Carolina, drew his service pistol on May 30, 2026, and pointed it directly at a fellow patrol officer. The reason: the officer had heated fish in the break room microwave, and the smell was unbearable for DeBiase.
The investigation was conducted jointly by the department’s Office of Professional Standards and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED). The result was decisive: dismissal for multiple violations of department policies and formal arrest on June 2, three days after the incident. DeBiase spent hours at the J. Reuben Long Detention Center before being released.
He now faces a felony charge for pointing and presenting a firearm at a person, an offense that under South Carolina law carries up to five years in prison. His court appearance is scheduled for August 14, 2026. All because of a colleague’s lunch.
