A South Carolina cop drew his gun on his coworker over microwaved fish Myrtle Beach detective Michael Debiase was fired and arrested after pointing his service weapon at a fellow officer inside the station.
We expect police officers to keep their cool under extreme pressure. But a fight over a smelly lunch inside a South Carolina police station shows how quickly that trust can break down.
WHAT HAPPENED
On June 2, a detective at the Myrtle Beach Police Department lost his temper in the station break room.
Police say 46-year-old Michael Debiase pulled his service weapon from his holster. He then pointed it at another officer who was microwaving fish.
The department quickly suspended Debiase. After state and local police looked into the event, officials fired him and took him to jail.
WHAT THE EVIDENCE SHOWS
The incident happened on June 2 in the Myrtle Beach police briefing room.
- Detective Michael Debiase, age 46, is the officer accused of pulling the gun.
- Debiase faced 1 criminal charge of pointing and presenting a firearm at a person.
- 2 agencies investigated the case: local internal affairs and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division.
THE BIGGER QUESTION
If an officer can lose his temper over a smelly lunch, how does he act on the street?
Police carry deadly weapons to keep us safe. This story makes us ask how departments screen officers for anger issues before giving them a badge and a gun.
THE OTHER SIDE
We do not yet have a statement from Debiase or his lawyer. In many workplace disputes, people argue that a threat was just a joke or a mistake.
Right now, there is no evidence to show this was a joke, and the police department treated the threat as a real danger.
WHAT HAPPENS NOW
Debiase no longer works for the police force. This means local taxpayers do not have to worry about him patrolling their streets.
But the department must now work to rebuild trust with a community that expects high standards from its protectors.
WHAT WE STILL DON'T KNOW
- Was the gun loaded when the officer pointed it?
- Had these two officers had fights or arguments in the past?
- Will the state take away Debiase's police license for good?
Transparency notes
Published: Jun 3, 2026. No major post-publication update has been logged.
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Sources
External source links were not provided in this article body. Our editors reference publicly available materials and update stories as new verified information arrives.