Bomb-making materials found by FBI at Mount Pleasant home

BY ANDREW KNAPP and EDWARD C. FENNELL

aknapp@postandcourier.com efennell@postandcourier.com

MOUNT PLEASANT — Police told neighbors that bomb-making materials were found Thursday when the FBI conducted a search of a duplex in the Townhomes of Beaumont subdivision.

Neither federal nor local officials would say exactly what the search was all about or whether any arrests were made.

A Mount Pleasant woman located through tax records as the owner of the townhouse said late Thursday that the FBI’s actions were the result of “a big mixup.”

She would not explain, and would not confirm her name, but said, “It’s all blown out of proportion.” Then she hung up.

Reached a second time, she said, “It will all straighten out. Bye bye.”

The FBI said only that “some hazardous materials” were found at the 1108 Monaco Drive home, located close to the entrance to the subdivision, which is off U.S. Highway 17 near Long Point Road. Brian Womble, supervisor for the FBI in Charleston, said the material was found while the agency conducted an investigation.

Mount Pleasant police and firefighters, the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office and EMS assisted the FBI with the search, Womble said. Maj. Jim Brady, a spokesman for the Sheriff’s Office, said a bomb squad was sent to the scene.

Capt. Amy McCarthy of the Mount Pleasant Police Department said the FBI was serving a warrant and, “apparently during their search they located some items they thought might be explosive devices.”

Michael Hoover, who lives with his mother next door to the residence that was searched, said police awoke them about 8:30 a.m. to advise them of the search. The Hoovers were told at the time, “There was nothing to worry about,” he said.

At 10:30 a.m., however, “police said we had to evacuate, that there was a bomb. Later they told us they did find bomb-making materials,” Hoover said.

Mount Pleasant police affixed yellow crime-scene tape across the entrance to the subdivision, and for hours prevented vehicles from entering or leaving. The road was reopened about 4:30 p.m., but police were allowing only residents in.

Hoover and his mother, Sonya Hoover, spent most of the day “hanging out in stores” and visiting relatives, the son said. Police phoned them in the afternoon to say they could return home.

“It’s been a long, long day,” he said. Sonya Hoover said she was very happy to be home.

Womble referred further questions to the FBI field office in Columbia. Denise Taiste, an FBI spokeswoman there, declined to confirm any of the details.

Reach Andrew Knapp at 937-5414 or twitter.com/offlede. Reach Edward C. Fennell at 937-5560.