CLOVER, S.C. — About 70 residents of a York County apartment complex were evacuated on Sunday because of a bomb threat, according to the York County Sheriff's Office. The man accused of possessing the devices has been arrested and charged.
Around 10:30 a.m., Todd Bruce Bentley, 57, of Clover, was found to be allegedly spray-painting graffiti on several walls and cars of the Wyle Springs Revere Apartments, which is located off of South Carolina Highway 274 in Lake Wylie.
Deputies discovered a "suspicious device on the porch of one of the ground-floor apartments, which was believed to have been an attempt to start a fire," the sheriff's office explained in a statement. Deputies believed Bentley's vehicle may have also be triggered with a potential device. Therefore the Rock Hill Police Department's bomb squad was called to the complex to search and render any devices safe.
As a precaution, officials evacuated nearby residents.
Bentley lives in the same apartment complex, according to Deputy Trent Faris of the York County Sheriff's Office. Authorities searched Bentley's apartment and found no additional devices.
"We appreciate the patience of the residents in this area. Their safety was our top priority, and although they were inconvenienced for several hours, we had to ensure this situation didn't escalate into something more serious," York County Sheriff Kevin Tolson said in a statement.
Residents were allowed to return to their homes around 6:45 p.m.
Bentley is facing charges including vandalism and threatening the life of a public employee. Additional charges are possible.
In addition to the York County Sheriff's Office and the Rock Hill Police Department, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the FBI were called to assist.