UPDATED (7:15 p.m. NEW VIDEO): The SLED bomb squad was called to the scene Tuesday morning of a U.S. Highway 301 traffic stop that resulted in discovery of what Orangeburg County Sheriff Larry Williams described as six or seven bombs or incendiary devices.

Speaking just before 10 a.m., Williams said one man was detained after the stop near Rivelon Drive and 301.

Update Mark Stephan Carron of 119 Devon Rd., Cinnaminson, N.J., has been taken into custody and has currently been charged with failure to stop for blue light and driving left of center.

According to Williams, ATF, FBI, and SLED are all involved in the investigation. State and federal charges are pending.



"I wouldn't say they (the bombs) were a homemade science experiment," Williams said. "This individual was the Real McCoy. I think that he could have caused some real damage to something if he really wanted to. I don't think we are dealing with a weekend hobbyist or someone who decided to experiment to make something. I think when he started to make a bomb, he ended up with a bomb."

As to what the man was planning to do with the bombs and weapons found by investigators, Williams said there is reason to believe his plan was robbery, not terrorism.

“We believe the he was more aligned to commit a crime such as robbery,” including the presence of some evidence that indicates plans to disguise himself.

Williams said the suspect is ex-military, “a bad boy.” But there is no reason to believe he intended a mass-casualty attack.



The State Law Enforcement Division bomb squad searched a room at Slumberland Motel on 301 north that was believed to be Carron's, where Williams said they found several assault weapons and false identities. Williams said evidence at the traffic stop scene led officers to believe there may be “some type of artillery” at that the motel.

At the 301-Rivelon scene, witnesses reported hearing SLED detonate the explosive devices.

Williams said deputies making the stop in the wee hours had a “suspicion something was wrong.” They took note of “what appeared to be an explosive on the front seat.” That proved to be a GPS device that had “some kind of strange wire on it.”

“In the back seat of the car, we found six or seven incendiary devices or bombs," Williams said, adding at the time that he did not know whether the devices were active.

Motel receipts and munitions found at the traffic stop scene led officers to the other site.

At the motel, a resident said the facility was evacuated about 10 a.m. with residents being allowed to return around 11:30 a.m. after law enforcement investigated. It was unclear whether any explosive devices or other evidence was found there.

The motel manager said the man who had occupied the room in question indentified himself as a retired law enforcement officer. He wore a badge. She said he was very cordial.



The veteran sheriff said the unfolding story is unlike any he has dealt with before. “You see someone with this type of artillery and a non-resident, non-address … This is something you read about in other places.”

“Thank God for the deputies. They were on time,” Williams said. “They could have diverted something big somewhere.”

Williams said he had no more information to provide about the man being detained or what the further story may be. He did say, “There is something else to this puzzle.”

Initial but unconfirmed reports from the scene indicated that two men were threatening to detonate a bomb somewhere in the vicinity of the S.C. Bank and Trust branch at 2705 Old Edisto Drive.

SCBT spokesperson Donna Pullen said just before 9:30 a.m. reports from the scene that the two men were inside the branch are inaccurate.

Pullen said the incident does not involve the bank. She said bank officials have been told a person was caught in proximity to the branch, which was closed as the incident unfolded.

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