Bodycam footage shows chaotic moments during 2022 police shootout in Conway
By: Bodycam footage released Wednesday by Horry County authorities shows the chaotic moments during a man’s shootout with Conway police in 2022.
The man, Tywrell Alston, 20, of Conway, pleaded guilty to attempted murder on Wednesday, the 15th Circuit Solicitor’s Office said. Circuit Court Judge Alex Hyman sentenced Alston to 20 years in prison; he is ineligible for parole because of the nature of the crime.
The incident happened on Dec. 29, 2002, when Conway police detective Nicholas Contino tried to stop a Jeep Cherokee driven by Alston near the intersection of 9th Avenue and Palmetto Street, according to the solicitor’s office. After a brief chase, Alston pulled into his driveway, got out of the vehicle and fired five shots at the police cruiser.
Contino dove back into his car and fired back, hitting Alston numerous times and sending him to the hospital, the solicitor’s office said. Contino was not hurt.
An investigation found Alston had THC and etomidate in his system, along with a blood alcohol level of 0.066%. According to DrugBank, etomidate is a “fast-acting medication used to start and maintain anesthesia during short medical procedures.”
In the bodycam footage, provided to News13 by the solicitor’s office, Contino is heard yelling “Put your hands up!” multiple times at Alston before saying “my adrenaline is pumping” as Alston is seen lying on the ground.
Last month, Alston filed a $1 million lawsuit against Conway police, saying he wanted the charges against him dismissed. He was scheduled to go on trial on March 3.