MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted a search at a residence in South Carolina on Wednesday as part of an “ongoing criminal civil rights investigation involving allegations of racial discrimination.” The search comes after two individuals, Alexis Paige Hartnett and Worden Evander Butler, from Horry County were charged with harassment for reportedly setting up a cross facing a Black neighbor’s home on Corbett Drive and setting it on fire in late November, according to incident reports reviewed by CBS News. Both Hartnett and Butler, who are White, were present outside the home during the search.

According to the incident report, in addition to the alleged cross-burning, Hartnett and Butler had “harassed and stalked” the neighbors with racially motivated words and actions. One day before the alleged cross burning, Butler entered the neighbor’s property without permission, disrupted work being done on the neighbor’s home, and shouted racial slurs. The neighbors expressed fear that the behavior of Hartnett and Butler may escalate beyond cross burning and believed it was becoming more threatening and frequent.

After the alleged cross-burning, Butler posted his neighbor’s address on social media, summoning “the devil’s army” and expressing a desire to make the neighbors pay, complaining that they would come on holidays to start a fight with him. Police said this comment refers to the neighbors’ property being a second home that they visit occasionally.

Arrest warrants were issued for Hartnett and Butler on Nov. 24, and they were arrested on Nov. 30. Hartnett was charged with harassment in the second degree and third-degree assault and battery, while Butler was charged with harassment in the second degree. Both were released on Dec. 1. The arrest warrant also noted that Hartnett claimed in a police interview that she had killed a Black woman in the past.

South Carolina lacks hate crime laws based on race, sexual orientation, gender, or gender identity, according to WBTW. However, the FBI is conducting a criminal civil rights investigation into the case, as the agency is the primary federal agency responsible for such investigations. The FBI is working with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and local and state partners on the investigation.