SAMPSON COUNTY, N.C. — The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation says one of its agents has been released from the hospital after being seriously injured in an explosion back on July 26.
According to a release, special agent Brian Joy was released on Monday and is now home with his family where he will continue to recover. Special agent Tim Luper, who was also injured in the explosion, is scheduled to have another surgery on his shoulder on Tuesday.
The SBI says the agents were injured while trying to neutralize what authorities said were bomb-making materials. They were assisting the Sampson County Sheriff's Office east of Fayetteville when the materials exploded.
The investigation started after deputies stopped Jimmy Tyndall Thursday afternoon for speeding. A K9 deputy alerted them to drugs in the car. During a search of the car, deputies found explosive devices and took Tyndall into custody. Deputies then called the SBI to help with the search of Tyndall's home where they found bomb-making materials "in plain sight" in a cabin on the property.
The SBI says the agents were hurt as they worked to render the materials safe. Both were taken to a burn center in Chapel Hill.
The sheriff's office said Jimmy Tyndall was charged with possessing weapons of mass destruction.