Man's bond set at nearly half a million dollars for bomb materials found at home

Bond was set at nearly half a million dollars for a 51-year-old man who was arrested after police found bomb making materials at a residence in North Charleston which prompted evacuations at nearby homes.

A judge set bond at $400,000 for Darrell Leone who is charged with possession or threat to use a destructive device, neglect of a child and drug offenses.

Investigators with North Charleston police say it all started when an officer was investigating a complaint of possible bomb making activities at a home on Old London Road.

The responding officer reported that he made contact with Leone, who was sitting at the front porch, and told him the reason why he was there. Leone then provided consent to the officer to search his home for bombs.

A police report states that as Leone was escorting the officer through his home, the officer saw several people sitting on a couch along with a 4-year-old girl in the living room. Police say there were also hypodermic needles and plastic baggies seen in plain view on a table in the same room. The officer said he also saw three people laying on a bed in three different rooms with one of the rooms containing a "partial white pill" and a plastic baggie.

According to investigators, Leone then brought the officer to the garage where items used to produce explosive devices were seen. Among the items the officer saw were roadside flares, sulfuric acid, Clorox, PVC pipes, matches, Draino, PVC, Play-Doh and BBs.

In addition, the officer also reported that one of the PVC pipes was wrapped in Play-Doh which had BBs embedded in it. The officer then called for more units and had everyone evacuate the home.

Police say Leone waived his Miranda Rights and told investigators he was aware of the items used for making an explosive, but said he was not making a bomb. According to a police report, Leone also said he showed one of the women in his home that he could "blow things up." The woman told police Leone was watching her 4-year-old girl while she slept.

Authorities say the incident prompted area homes to be evacuated. NCPD Spokesman Spencer Pryor said ATF and the Charleston County Bomb Squad were called out to the location.

NCPD officials say DSS was contacted regarding the welfare of the child found in the home.

Authorities also arrested Daniel Johnston, Julie Faulling, Rebekah Fant, Taylor Arnold, Clarence Pugh, Shara Greene, Russell Mosley and Michele Smith, all of whom were found in the home. Smith is also charged with unlawful conduct towards a child, after her 4-year-old girl was found in the home

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