A man has been arrested for reportedly kidnapping and sexually assaulting a woman at a bar in North Myrtle Beach during the weekend.
According to available records A man named Douglas Steadman, aged 49, from Lexington, N.C., was taken into custody on Sunday. He is facing charges of kidnapping and first-degree criminal sexual conduct.
An officer from the North Myrtle Beach Police Department responded to Sky Bar on Main Street at approximately 11:30 p.m. on Saturday, according to the police report. The officer reported observing a group of individuals protecting a woman who was covered with a towel. According to the documents, the woman seemed to be very upset and mentioned that she had recently experienced a sexual assault.
According to reports, the officer accompanied the woman to a hospital, where they observed injuries to her mouth and blood on both of her hands. The woman mentioned that she couldn’t find her personal belongings, including her clothes, shoes, phone, debit card, and driver’s license.
Upon reaching the hospital, the woman informed the authorities that she had been at the bar by herself and had consumed a few beverages. According to her account, a man named Steadman approached her on the dance floor and expressed concern about her level of intoxication, suggesting that the establishment might ask her to leave.
According to the report, Steadman guided the woman downstairs to an area that she could only describe as being dimly lit.
According to the arrest warrants, Steadman is accused of engaging in non-consensual sexual acts on three separate occasions within a 20-25 minute timeframe.
In the police report, the woman described the disturbing incident where Steadman forcefully inserted his fingers into her mouth, despite her clear and repeated objections.
Additionally, she informed the authorities that he engaged in a physical altercation with her, forcefully obstructing her breathing by placing his hands over her mouth and nose. The woman described the situation as challenging to escape from and mentioned experiencing difficulty breathing. She also mentioned the possibility of losing consciousness during the assault.
Once Steadman departed for the third time, the woman managed to make her way to a location where she could be visible to others and receive assistance.
Camera footage from the bar captured both the woman and Steadman inside, as well as them leaving together, according to the police.
According to Steadman, he was assisting the woman in leaving as security was on the verge of removing her. According to his account, once he brought the woman downstairs, they encountered two additional men and he departed following a confrontation.
According to reports, the police also interviewed an individual who was with Steadman at the bar. This person mentioned that there was a period of time during which they were unsure of Steadman’s whereabouts. Authorities stated that the timeline coincided with the reported incident of sexual assault.
Following Steadman’s incarceration, law enforcement officers observed the presence of blood on his shirt. According to documents, Steadman claimed to be unaware of how it ended up there when questioned by officers.
According to recent records obtained by WMBF News, Steadman is currently being held at the J. Reuben Long Detention Center without a bond set.