Media release from Floyd County, GA:
The Floyd County Bomb Squad had to move quickly Wednesday evening to safely detonate a very large amount of explosives which were confiscated as the result of an investigation.
Police quickly realized the confiscated explosives were sensitive and unstable, and because of the amount, there was no way to store the materials. Experts in the bomb squad determined the safest way forward was to discharge those explosives in a controlled environment.
“Our bomb techs are trained to render safe a variety of devices and respond to suspicious items and hazardous materials,” FCPD Capt. Ron Hunton, the head of the Floyd County Bomb Squad said.
Daryl Stamey Sr., 56, and Steven Gray, 64, have been arrested in connection with the manufacturing and possession of explosive devices.
According to Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John. F. King, investigators received a lead and obtained a search warrant for Steven Gray’s residence, where it was reported the devices were being manufactured. Additional explosive devices and explosive manufacturing materials were located, disarmed and removed from the residence. Steven Gray was arrested and charged with 23 counts of manufacturing explosive devices.
“At approximately 9:04 a.m. on July 15, the Rome Police Department executed an unrelated search warrant at a commercial facility on Hull Avenue,” King said. “Upon discovering homemade explosive devices at the facility, the State Fire Marshal’s Office, the Floyd County Police Department and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were called in to provide additional assistance.”
Police acknowledged that the sound from those explosions were reported across the county late into the evening.
“We realize the noise was disturbing but at no time was the public in any danger,” Floyd County Police Chief Mark Wallace said.
Although alerts on social media and through the Code Red app were sent out early on, he stated the police department will work to improve their communication strategies to make the public aware of situations like this one in the future.
To stay updated on any emergency communications download either the Code Red app or Floyd County GA Police Dept app.
The investigation is a joint effort between the State Fire Marshal’s Office, the Rome Police Department, the Floyd County Police Department and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
For any inquiries, contact the Georgia Insurance Commissioner’s Office at media@oci.ga.gov or by phone Bryce Rawson at 470-716-1847 or Tanya Zamora at 678-371-5641.
Photo from the Office of Georgia’s Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner.
