The potential was there last week for considerable loss of life and destruction of any number of targets in Orangeburg County prior to the apprehension of a bomb-laden New Jersey man, police say.

Sheriff Larry Williams said several key elements needed in order to “wreak havoc” on single, multiple or group targets were present during the threat offered by Mark Carron, a 47-year-old with a long history of conflict with the law.

“The mentality, the resource and the target,” Williams said. “I think this guy represented all three, plus.”

Carron was apprehended during a traffic stop early last Tuesday after law enforcement officials received a tip that a man in the Orangeburg area had a van load of high-powered rifles and weaponry.

Jim Modzelewski, the agent in charge of the Columbia ATF office, said federal authorities are looking at charges against Carron in the Orangeburg incident as well.

“We’re still investigating right now,” he said. “We’re looking at it.”

After receiving the tip, which said a man was traveling in a vehicle loaded with assault-type weapons, a BOLO was issued for the silver Ford van the man was said to be driving. However, the search didn’t turn up the suspect for several hours.

But around 12:30 a.m., two county deputies spotted a silver van with out-of-state plates traveling on Old Edisto Drive. The deputies radioed in a traffic stop.

When one of the deputies approached the vehicle, he noticed what appeared to be the barrel of a weapon on the passenger’s side seat. The driver was then asked to exit the vehicle.

The weapon turned out to be a sawed-off shotgun with pistol-type grips, police said.

When deputies and State Law Enforcement Division investigators went through the van, they found seven pipe bombs, some of which contained pellets intended to inflict greater injury, Williams said.

Police say they found bulletproof vests, handguns and assault weapons, including a high-powered rifle with a scope mounted on a bi-pod and several boxes of ammunition.

Last Thursday the New Jersey man was served with warrants for possession of a sawed-off shotgun, unlawful possession of firearms by a person convicted of a violent crime and possession and transporting of destructive devices or explosives.

During his 20-minute court appearance, Carron did not appear very concerned with the charges or his potential jail sentence of more than 20 years.

When the magistrate asked if he had a lawyer, Carron said he would hire one, adding jovially, “Anyone know a good one?”

Williams said that air of detachment displayed in court is one of the characteristics that made Carron seem potentially dangerous.

“If you were to profile Mr. Carron from the time he was incarcerated, it’s clear he felt no remorse about what happened, or his non-understanding of what he could have done with what he had,” the sheriff said.

Investigators in court last week brought out that Carron’s history with incarceration dates back at least to 1980.

The Pinellas County (Fla.) Sheriff’s Office charged Carron with two counts of escape (one in Florida, one in New Bern, N.C.), two counts of failure to appear to answer charges of defrauding an innkeeper and possession of stolen property.

Two months later, Carron’s criminal career became more violent. On Feb. 10, 1981, a 28-year-old Carron was arrested on kidnapping and armed robbery charges.

After spending 10-1/2 years in prison on a 99-year sentence, Carron was released and remained “clean” for 13 years until being charged with failing to appear in court.

Police are still looking at why the man with a troubled past came to Orangeburg and what exactly his intentions were.

The weaponry police say was taken from his vehicle supported the possibility of any number of events.

“There’s so many scenarios that could have played out with what he had – disguises, the bombs,” Williams said. “So many things could have happened. The potential was there. If his mind had of told him to blow up the Edisto River bridge, could he have done it? Yes.”

Williams said the belief remains that Carron had intended to find a vulnerable business in the Orangeburg area to overwhelm with his small arsenal.

“I think he had the plans to commit a bank robbery,” Williams said. “But what he had fits so many crimes. There’s so many scenarios that could have played out considering what he had.”

T&D Staff Writer Richard Walker can be reached by e-mail at rwalker@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-533-5516.

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