Police Close South Carolina Highway After Suspicious Items Found In Vehicle

Sunday, August 5th 2007, 2:34 pm

By: News On 6

GOOSE CREEK, S.C. (AP) _ Two men were detained after police found a suspicious item in their car during a routine traffic stop for speeding near Charleston, authorities said Sunday.

Berkeley County sheriff's Lt. Vince Lombard said the men were being held pending a charge of unlawful possession of an explosive device.

Lombard would not say what the device was or what it was that bomb technicians from neighboring Charleston County exploded at about 2:45 a.m. Sunday.

The item made a loud bang, similar to a firecracker, when it was demolished, authorities said.

U.S. Highway 176 was closed at about 7 p.m. Saturday and federal officials later said there was ``no immediate threat.''

Goose Creek is home to the Naval Weapons Station, which houses the U.S. Naval Consolidated Brig, a military prison where enemy combatants have been held. The traffic stop took place about 7 miles from the sprawling Navy facility.

The car was heading west, away from Goose Creek, when it was pulled over about 7 miles from the sprawling Navy facility, Lombard said.

Goose Creek, with a population of about 30,000, is located about 20 miles north of Charleston.