Tracking device led to Sept. bomb scare
It was private detective's
A private detective's effort to track someone is what caused scores of people to make tracks during a bomb scare last month at the College of Charleston, authorities said Monday.
The "highly suspicious package" that was found about 9 a.m. Sept. 21 at Coming and Calhoun streets was actually a cell phone connected to a Global Positioning Satellite-tracking device and two heavy-duty batteries, Charleston police spokesman Charles Francis said.
He said investigators determined the device, in a hard-shell briefcase, fell off a car after being placed in or on it by a private detective attempting to track someone's movements. No charges will be made, he said.
Charleston police, EMS, the Charleston Fire Department, College of Charleston Public Safety and the Joint Terrorism
Task Force responded to the scene.
For three hours, usually very busy streets were sealed off while authorities closed in on the device with a bomb-handling robot.
Police were instructed to watch for anyone with a cell phone looking in the direction of the briefcase containing the device.
At 12:25 p.m., authorities declared the device had been "rendered safe," and an investigation began.
During the incident, the college posted information about the possible bomb on its Web site.
Dormitory officials informed residents, and faculty were asked to notify students in class.
Staffers kept students out of potentially dangerous areas.
On Monday, the college announced that it will buy a state-of-the-art emergency communication system and have it online by the end of the year.
Francis did not reveal the name of the private detective he said had rigged the package.
The detective was unaware that the package had fallen and triggered so much concern, he said.
Francis said investigators tracked down the private detective, who was surprised to hear of the incident.
"We found him. He didn't know what was going on," Francis said.
Reach Edward C. Fennell at efennell@postandcourier.com or 745-5865.
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Comments
This article has 9 comment(s)
Posted by MsBehavin on October 9, 2007 at 10:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Could it be said that he's a clueless detective?
Posted by CHRISJIII on October 9, 2007 at 11:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This is really laughable. All of that disruption for what? I hope that the city police and public saftey feel really great about their efforts in futility.
Posted by lostinterestfast on October 9, 2007 at 11:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
All that for a suspicious or cheating spouse...
Posted by suec on October 9, 2007 at 11:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
ChrisJ, How was it an exercise in futility? Better safe than sorry, I say.
Posted by beemz on October 9, 2007 at 2:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Futile,I think not im glad that he was there because this could have been worse.
beemz
Posted by eyfigueroa on October 9, 2007 at 2:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
so my tax dollars were used to dispose of a tracking device left by a private investigator?
WOW!
the city what it had to, by all means i'm grateful for the rapid response, but the bonehead who failed to secure the device properly should bear some financial responsibility.
Posted by RTC on October 9, 2007 at 3:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Why did it take so long to let the public know about this?
Posted by carolinabeachgirl on October 9, 2007 at 4:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If he's not going to be charged he should at least have to pay the bill for that little incident. I am sure it was a small fortune to have all of those officers out there.
Posted by Neponset on October 9, 2007 at 7:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Not much detail here to understand what was going on. We have all watched enougth detective stories, where a miniture tracking device is attached under the car - usually with a magnet. Here we have a large package - where do you put it? The only answer I can come up with is to put it into the suspects trunk , which raises issues of unlawful breaking and entering.