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Charles McClendon, photo courtesy of J. Reuben Long Detention Center
Horry County police had to arrest one of their own Monday, after they say he pulled his gun on his estranged wife.
Corporal Charles McLendon is charged with Criminal Domestic Violence 1st Offense and Misconduct in Office. He's been terminated from the department.
Just after midnight Monday, police responded to the victim's home on Whaler Harbour in the Myrtle Beach area in reference to a domestic situation.
When they arrived, police say they observed McLendon in an agitated state.
Officers talked to the victim, who told them she and McLendon are married but separated.
She said a male friend brought her home and McLendon drove by and got angry about the man being there.
McLendon was on duty and yelled from the PA system in his patrol car that he was going to kill himself and then left, according to the report.
The victim told police she left in her car and noticed McLendon behind her, on the PA system, asking her to pull over.
She says when she refused, he turned on his emergency equipment, drove past her and forced her to stop in the road.
She says he got out of his car with his weapon drawn, approached her car, took off his wedding band and threw it and the magazine from his handgun into her car.
McLendon then told her he had one bullet left to do what he needed to do, according to the report, and then left.
Police say he went back to the victim's home, broke two doors of their hinges and ransacked her bedroom looking for her wedding rings.
The victim returned home and the two got into an argument. The victim told police she began hitting McLendon and that he pinned her down and got her in a choke hold.
The victim said she grabbed a can of air freshner and hit McLendon until he let her go.
The report says McLendon then notified a sergeant with Horry County police, saying he needed an officer at the house.
Police say McLendon was taken to Conway Medical Center for evaluation after his arrest because he had minor scratches on his face, neck and head. The injuries did not require treatment.
Corporal McLendon began his employment with the Horry County Police Department on May 11, 1999.
