Deputies: 2 Men Arrested After Guns, Drugs, & Pipe Bombs Found In A Lancaster County Home
LANCASTER, S.C. — Lancaster County Police say two men are under arrest after deputies responded to reports of an assault at a home in Lancaster county and found drugs, guns, and explosives while inside the home last Saturday morning.
Deputies say 41-year-old Edward Hamilton was arrested March 6th following the incident for several offenses including an assault, drug law violations, and possession of explosive devices.
Christopher Polston was also arrested March 12th for his involvement in this case, and he is charged with possession of methamphetamine and heroin, according to a news release.
Deputies say on March 6th around 1 a.m. they responded to the home in Lancaster County, after receiving a complaint that a victim had been assaulted by Hamilton.
The 35-year-old male victim says he was visiting a woman inside the home when Hamilton wanted him to leave, and then Hamilton attempted to assault him with a stick as well as fire shots from his gun while the victim ran away.
Deputies say they found Hamilton, the woman, and three others inside the home when they arrived on the scene, as well as several fired cartridge cases on the front porch that allegedly came from Hamilton’s pistol.
Hamilton was taken into custody and the occupants of the home were escorted outside, when deputies spotted what they believed to be illegal narcotics and drug paraphernalia inside the home.
After conducting a search of the home, deputies say a .380 caliber pistol, believed to be fired by Hamilton, was found in his bedroom along with suspected methamphetamine and two tablets of suspected tramadol.
Investigators say a single tablet believed to be oxycodone was found on a table in the living room, and a locked plastic storage box containing three small items which appeared to pipe bombs, constructed from PVC pipe, were found in Hamilton’s bedroom.
The South Carolina Bomb Squad responded after the discovery of these explosives and took them to a separate location to take care of them, with one device not working and two others being disarmed.
Investigators say Hamilton was then taken to the Lancaster County Detention Center and charged with 1st degree assault and battery, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute tramadol, possession with intent to distribute oxycodone, and three counts of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance in proximity of a school or park.
On Tuesday, March 9th, detectives say Hamilton was additionally charged for two counts of possession of a destructive device and one count of possession of materials for making a destructive device with his bond being set at $3,500 for each additional charge.
Hamilton is currently being held under a $60,000 worth of bonds for his charges, according to a news release.
Police say additional warrants have been issued for 35-year-old Sheena Jenkins, 44-year-old Gary Carter, 34-year-old Christopher Polston, and 41-year-old Jeffrey Whitaker who are occupants of the home, after more illegal items were found in the back bedroom of the house.
Detectives say they found suspected methamphetamine, crack cocaine, and marijuana as well as digital scales and smoking pipes.
Police say Jenkins, Carter, Polston, and Whitaker have been served with warrants for trafficking methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine, possession with intent to distribute marijuana, possession of oxycodone, and three counts of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance in proximity of a school or park.
Sheriff Barry Faile says, “One crime quickly led to another during our investigation of this assault call. Our deputies stepped into a dangerous situation due to
the presence of the pipe bombs, which were real. Thankfully they recognized the danger,retreated to safety, and called for assistance to deal with the explosives. We appreciate
the quick response and the expertise of SLED in removing these items and making them harmless.”
