Ladson, S.C. ? Dozens of police officers and bloodhounds searched for a missing constable Tuesday after his empty cruiser was found in flames several miles from where he was last seen at a traffic stop, authorities said.

Charleston County Sheriff Al Cannon said authorities had identified a “person of interest” who was being sought on an unrelated weapons charge.

But he said officials don’t know what happened to Robert Lee Bailey, a 67-year-old constable who works for the Lincolnville Police Department.

“It certainly does not look good. But we are hopeful. We have no explanation for what occurred,” Cannon said.

Bailey was last seen when he pulled a vehicle over about 10:30 p.m. Monday in Lincolnville. Witnesses reported hearing gunshots a few minutes later, and Bailey’s cap, two guns, bullet casings and blood were found in a yard.

About an hour later, a Highway Patrol officer spotted Bailey’s burning car in the parking lot of a church off Interstate 26. The shooting was not believed to be related to the traffic stop, Cannon said.

Cannon said officials wanted to speak to a 24-year-old man wanted on a federal weapons charge. Walter Fayall, of St. Stephens, was being sought by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. No charges had been filed against him in the missing officer case.

The sheriff said authorities are investigating whether Fayall lived in a house near the shooting site. Cannon also said two people may have been involved, since the police cruiser was burned several miles from the shooting scene.

Authorities also issued an alert for a black Chevrolet Caprice. Along highways near Lincolnville, a small town about 20 miles west of Charleston, electronic signs listed a fugitive alert.