Tracking device led to Sept. bomb scare

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.