Search warrants show how police connected man to explosive devices found around Brevard

BREVARD, N.C. (WLOS) — Newly-obtained search warrants and a probable cause affidavit are shedding light on how police were able to connect a man to more than a dozen explosive devices found around downtown Brevard in March.

It all started the morning of Sunday, March 14, when Brevard Police received multiple reports of a suspected improvised explosive device, or IED, on the property of First Baptist Church of Brevard. The church's security team had found the device and extinguished it before it detonated.

After a search of the area by Brevard police, the Transylvania County Sheriff's Department, State Bureau of Investigation and FBI, a total of 18 IEDs were located, some of which were made of cardboard tubes, PVC pipe and electrical tape. A majority of the devices were found at the Transylvania County Community Services Building, which is across the street from First Baptist Church. Other devices were found at an American Legion building nearby, as well as a former dentist's office. All of the buildings are within a block or two of each other. Some of the devices had detonated, but none injured anyone or caused significant damage, according to police.

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According to the affidavit, security surveillance footage from the Community Services Building showed a person walking around the buildings the morning of Sunday, March 14. The person in the footage is described by police as "an older white male of thin build with a hunched posture and a slight limp."

A detective who viewed the footage noted that Terry Lee Barham lives close to the buildings that were targeted with the devices. According to the affidavit, the detective was "familiar with Barham from previous law enforcement contacts and search warrants at his residence." He noted that the person in the surveillance video matched Barham's appearance and stature. Additionally, the path the individual in the video took would take him directly to Barham's residence on South Johnson Street.

SUSPECTED EXPLOSIVE DEVICES FOUND IN DOWNTOWN BREVARD, POLICE SAY

While canvassing the neighborhood, a neighbor told law enforcement she heard "loud bangs" about a week earlier. Detectives went to Barham's house, where law enforcement saw on the porch and in the yard "in plain view" items consistent with the devices they found earlier that morning: PVC pipe, sparkling water cans, electrical tape and acetone.

All of this eventually led to the arrest of Barham, who now faces a slew of charges, including possession of a weapon of mass destruction and terrorism. Barham's bond was set at $280 thousand, and he bonded out on April 6.

While some neighbors said they thought Barham was not a threat to the community, others said they were worried about him being back home and were afraid to go on camera out of fear of possible retaliation.

AROUND 20 SUSPICIOUS DEVICES FOUND IN DOWNTOWN BREVARD, POLICE SAY

Maynard said some in the community are certainly shaken.

"Some people say it wasn't meant to cause any great damage, but it certainly meant to cause some kind of uproar. It was meant to scare people," he said." I've had preschool parents, because we have a preschool that meets every day, to be very concerned and know what measures we have in place to protect their children."

Maynard said he's learned to expect the unexpected, which is why he's had a security team at First Baptist Church.

"I remember when we started our security team when we began to talk about this, people asked, 'was that necessary in Brevard?' Well, nobody's asking that question now," Maynard said.

He said, even with Barham out on bond and just a short walk away from the church, he feels safe there.

"For us personally, we feel comfortable as a staff and the general membership of the church because we know there's a no contact order. Our police have shown a strong presence around the church" he said.

BREVARD EXPLOSIVES SUSPECT OUT ON $280,000 BOND

Maynard said he holds no ill will against Barham and wonders if things had been different if they hadn't been strangers.

"I wonder if we'd have known each other if anything would've changed. So, I think about that," he said.

He said occurrences like this, unfortunately, aren't unusual these days, but he certainly doesn't want people to treat it like it's normal.

"It's not something you can just sweep under the rug and act like it's not a big deal. It's a big deal," Maynard said.

Barham's next court appearance is set for June 17.

COURT DATE SET FOR MAN ACCUSED OF PLANTING EXPLOSIVES IN DOWNTOWN BREVARD

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