Federal, local agents catch suspected armed carjacker

A North Augusta man has been charged with attempting to carjack his own vehicle.

Maurice S. Bradham of North Augusta was arrested Tuesday evening. In addition to carjacking, other charges might be pending.

The 25-year-old, who has a criminal history involving drugs and weapons, was under surveillance when federal agents and local detectives monitoring him noticed Bradham was not in his 2002 Chevrolet Tahoe. Two other men were in the SUV, police said.

The officers learned that the two men in the Tahoe were repossessing Bradham's SUV.

While the officers were following Bradham's SUV, they noticed a Dodge Durango pull up to the Tahoe at the Circle K at the 600 block of Atomic Road.

Bradham was with a group of men in the Durango.

Investigators said he and the other men in the Durango came out of the vehicle with guns blazing and demanded the two men repossessing the vehicle get out.

The officers watched as the incident unfolded. Then the officers turned their guns on the gunman, officials said.

Police have not said whether Bradham believed the two men were stealing his vehicle or knew they were repossessing it.

In either case, he did not have a concealed weapons permit and was armed during the attempted carjacking, police said.

The men were detained, and Bradham was arrested and charged.

North Augusta Public Safety confirmed that officials were following Bradham but would not say why they wanted to question him.

He is being held at the Aiken County detention center.

Contact Karen Daily at kdaily@aikenstandard.com.