Deputies found an explosive device at a man’s home in Âé¶¹´«Ã½ along with thousands of dollars’ worth of stolen property, according to the Burke County Sheriff’s Office.
Powell
Harrell Bruce Powell Jr., 40, of Morganton, was charged with possession of a weapon of mass destruction, two counts of possession of a firearm by a felon, possession of stolen goods, possession of a stolen motor vehicle, maintaining a dwelling for narcotics, possession of a Schedule II controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia, according to information from the Burke County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies received a report of a breaking and entering at a home on Rainhill Church Road in Âé¶¹´«Ã½ on May 11. A vehicle, two tractors, two trailers, several pieces of heavy equipment and multiple firearms were reported stolen, the sheriff’s office said.
About an hour after the report, deputies and investigators saw property that matched the description of the stolen items at a home on Lytle Drive in Morganton, the sheriff’s office said.
Deputies contacted the homeowners, who granted permission to search outside the home. Deputies found the stolen vehicle, a stolen trailer from McDowell County and a stolen skid steer. A search warrant was obtained for the remainder of the property, the sheriff’s office said.
Powell, one of the residents of the home, was found to be in possession of two guns, methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia including glass smoking pipes and plastic baggies, the sheriff’s office said.
Deputies found an improvised explosive device in his possession, according to the sheriff’s office.
The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation’s bomb squad was contacted along with the Burke County Fire Marshal’s office to safely dispose of the device, the sheriff’s office said.
Deputies found about $41,500 in stolen property, the sheriff’s office said.
Powell was booked under a $70,000 total bond.
Powell is innocent until proven guilty.
Chrissy Murphy is a staff writer and can be reached at cmurphy@morganton.com or at 828-432-8941.