$2M Bail in Montana for Virginia Pipe Bomb Suspect

A Great Falls judge set bail at $2 million for a Virginia man who authorities say threw pipe bombs at officers while leading them on a 40-mile chase in a stolen car.

Laurence Stewart II appeared Friday before District Judge Dirk Sandefur.

Stewart is charged with three counts of attempted deliberate homicide. The Great Falls Tribune reported two patrol cars drove over a bomb Thursday just before it exploded, and another bomb exploded near a deputy's car.

The 25-year-old Stewart also faces a charge of felony criminal endangerment for allegedly throwing a bomb near a parked civilian.

Det. John Cadner of Cascade County Sheriff's Office testified other bombs were seized from the vehicle.

Stewart faces charges in Virginia for allegedly detonating pipe bombs at two homes in Stafford County and one in Fredericksburg. He is accused of explosions at the home of an ex-girlfriend, a Stafford County Sheriff's deputy's former home and another law enforcement official's home, according to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

The first explosion Tuesday morning was at the former home of a sheriff's deputy in the 3100 block of Normandy Avenue in Fredericksburg about 4 a.m. About 4:30 a.m., a homemade pipe bomb was thrown outside a home in the Kings Grant subdivision. And about 5:30 a.m., a homemade pipe bomb was thrown to the rear of a home in the Country Ridge subdivision, according to the sheriff.

No one was injured, but all three homes were damaged.

Stewart was previously wanted on charges including indecent exposure and violation of a protection order, the Associated Press reported. He is accused of exposing himself to two people while sitting in his car in North Stafford in July and August, authorities said.

The law enforcement officials targeted were investigating that case, authorities said.