Morganton Man Charged With Planting Pipe Bombs At Hickory Church

The Hickory Police Department has confirmed two “pipe bomb-type” devices were found at a church on Sunday and they’ve arrested a suspect believed to be responsible.

According from a release from Hickory Police, officers responded on Sunday to Market Place Church on Highway 127 South in reference to a pair of pipe bombs at the location. Multiple agencies assisted including the FBI.

37-year old Joshua Wayne Hawley of Morganton was charged on Monday with possession of weapons of mass destruction and placed in the Catawba County Detention Center under a bond of $150,000. He is scheduled to appear in Catawba County District Court on Tuesday.

Reports are that Hawley was a member of the church. The pastor had asked him months ago to stop attending because of his behavior, describing him as “dangerous.”

Photo: Hickory Police Department