Bond set at $50k for man accused of fake bomb threat

WEST ASHLEY, SC (WCSC) - Bond was set at $50,000 for a 71-year-old man accused of telling people that he had a bomb in the trunk of his car after he was asked to move his vehicle for a parade.

The Charleston County Sheriff's Office charged Matthew Polite Jr. with communicating a bomb threat.

According to a sheriff's office report, Polite told a number of people on Monday that he had a bomb in his trunk after he was asked to move his 2012 Kia due to the Red Top parade.

Authorities say at 9:40 a.m., the sheriff's office responded to the Red Top Community Center on Old Charleston Road for a report of a vehicle possibly having an explosive device in the trunk.

Maj. Jim Brady with the Charleston County Sheriff's Office said around 11:05 a.m. members of the bomb squad cleared the vehicle and found no threats inside.

When parade watcher Josephine Heyward arrived she said, "I was surprised with the bomb squad, craziness. This is an annual event. This is like a memorial for the Red Top community. It's been going on for years."

The sheriff's office had cordoned off portions of Old Charleston Road as crews checked out the vehicle. The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division also arrived on scene.

The sheriff's office says the annual Red Top Parade which was slated to begin at 10 a.m., was delayed due to the investigation.

"We are used to about 10 minutes for it to be delayed, but definitely it was just fine. We know that this is stuff that happens," said Ebony Williams.

The parade began an hour later following the investigation.

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