Gainesville man arrested for allegedly making bombs, growing marijuana

Police seized several guns from a home in Hall County last week.

Credit: Hall County Sheriff's Office

Credit: Hall County Sheriff's Office

Police seized several guns from a home in Hall County last week.

A Gainesville man was arrested last week for allegedly making explosive devices at his home and growing more than $9,000 worth of marijuana, police said Monday.

Zachary Ruben, 31, also had a shotgun, two rifles, four pistols and a bullet resistant vest at his home, the Hall County Multi-Agency Narcotics Squad said in a statement.

Officers “developed information” on Ruben that led to the investigation at his home on Pinecrest Drive last Wednesday. In addition to the guns, police found a pipe bomb and parts for a second bomb, two marijuana plants, half an ounce of loose marijuana, digital scales and a silencer for a gun, the statement said. The drugs had an estimated street value of $9,050.

Nothing indicates that Ruben was planning to ever use the devices, according to Hall County Lieutenant Don Scalia.

“It appears that the suspect manufactured them as some kind of an experiment,” he said.

Zachary Ruben was allegedly in possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

Credit: Hall County Sheriff's Office

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Credit: Hall County Sheriff's Office

Ruben was arrested without incident and charged with manufacturing marijuana, possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute, manufacturing an explosive device and possession of a silencer.

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