Arrests made in separate Floyd County homemade bomb incidents, police say

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - Two men were among the several people arrested after authorities found explosives at two locations in Floyd County this week.

Daryl Stamey Sr., 56, faces 23 counts of possessing, manufacturing or distributing explosive devices and one count of theft by taking a motor vehicle. Meanwhile, 64-year-old Steven Gray faces 10 counts of the same explosive devices charge, plus one weapons charge, jail records show.

Both men are being held without bond.

The first case happened on Tuesday, when Rome police searched a business on Hull Avenue. Officers were looking for a missing car but found explosive materials instead, police said.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives was called to investigate. Several people, including Stamey, were arrested, and federal officials are still looking into the incident, according to police.

Officers have not identified the others who were taken into custody.

Then, in an unrelated case on Wednesday, investigators searched Gray’s home on Turkey Mountain Road in Armuchee, allegedly finding explosives and manufacturing materials. According to Floyd County government officials, the devices were unstable and there were too many to store, so a bomb squad blew them up in a controlled environment.

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Rome police said the incidents are unrelated.

Before the explosions, Floyd County police posted a notice on social media and the CodeRED safety app, saying “noises are to be expected.” The explosions rang out across the county until late in 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 in a statement.

Wallace added that the police department is looking into improving its communication strategies so the public can be more aware of incidents in the future.

It’s unknown what any of the bombs were intended for.

Editor’s note: On Friday, Rome police clarified that the two incidents are unrelated. The story has been updated to reflect this.