Body, “Suspicious Package” Found Near North Augusta Playground

North Augusta, SC—Monday morning, traffic was diverted around the stretch of Buena Vista Avenue that separates the North Augusta Community Center and the North Augusta Department of Public Safety. Green tarps were hung around the playground area outside the center.

Lt. Tim Pearson, North Augusta Department of Public Safety: “At 9:09 this morning, we received a call about an incident that took place across the police department in the park.“

The Aiken County coroner says a man called the police department and said he was across the street in the park, with a package for them.

The coroner says after making that call, the man shot himself.

The package found near the man was immediately deemed “suspicious.“ SLED was called in with their bomb squad, and a robot was sent behind the tarp to investigate.

Lt. Pearson: “There was a package there, and certainly you understand we have to err on the side of caution, we needed to know what was in the package. They did bring in their explosives team, it’s been determined that there was no explosive device.“

What was inside that package, the coroner tells us, was a video tape. We’ve learned that the man had criminal sexual charges pending against him.

…And because those charges came from the North Augusta Department of Public Safety, the tape, along with the investigation, will now be turned over to SLED.

The coroner says he will perform an autopsy Tuesday.