Hilton Head hit-and-run suspect threw fake ID out of car, police say
A 20-year-old man, charged with driving under the influence after allegedly hitting and damaging a Hilton Head restaurant before taking off, had three other people in the car with him when police found him less than a mile away, according to the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office.
Police also said the suspect allegedly appeared to have tossed his fake ID on the side of the road before an officer confronted him. BCSO has charged him with driving under the influence and unlawful use of a license.
The crash occurred just four days before Christmas, forcing the vegetarian restaurant to close during one of its busiest seasons. The owners were able to re-open two days later, but are still recovering financially from a house fire that occurred the same day as the crash. Police have determined there was “no connection” between the two incidents.
Suspect allegedly defenestrated fake ID
At around 2:04 a.m. on Dec. 21, Deputy Sheriff Brayven Shapiro was en route to the scene of the hit-and-run when he spotted a black Range Rover pulled over on the side of Palmetto Business Park Road. According to the police report, the car matched the description of the vehicle that had just fled.
Shapiro approached the car and allegedly saw a young man standing outside of it with the driver’s side door open. The officer peered into the car and saw three people sitting in the backseat. The front of the car was visibly damaged, according to the police report.
Shapiro claims to have attempted to have a conversation with the man, who allegedly avoided eye contact and walked away from him while they talked. In his report, the officer wrote that he noticed the smell of alcohol on his breath.
A fake ID appears to have been tossed
On the side of the road, Shapiro claims to have noticed a small white card that the suspect appeared to have tossed.
Shapiro picked up the card and asked the suspect why he threw his ID. The man allegedly acted as if he had no idea what the officer was talking about, according to the police report.
When Shapiro showed the suspect the ID, he allegedly grabbed it and attempted to tear it in half. He was then handcuffed and detained, the report states.
While in questioning, the 20 year-old confessed to being the driver of the vehicle and colliding with the restaurant. Police were able to locate the suspect’s real ID, which helped them determine the one he had attempted to discard was allegedly fake and showed an altered date of birth.
After the man allegedly declined to partake in a field sobriety, officers placed him under arrest and transported him to the Beaufort County Detention Center.
