Investigators: Intent for explosives still unknown

By Mashaun D. Simon and Mike Morris

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Gwinnett Fire officials are still investigating five people arrested after a county police officer discovered explosives during a routine traffic stop Monday.

Enlarge photo

Gwinnett County Sheriff's Department Top row, from left: Michael Brewer, Phillip Ray Duncan, Shirley Maddox. Bottom row, from left: William Dale Parten, Matthew Henry Rothove

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Two devices confiscated from the scene contained shrapnel materials such as nails and screws, Tommy Rutledge, Gwinnett Fire spokesman, told the AJC.

“At this point there is no information that indicates any type of involvement with domestic terrorism or that links the individuals to any type of hate group or militia group,” he said. “Investigators are looking at any previous involvement or history that these individuals may have had with police.”

If deployed, such devices can cause great bodily harm or death, Rutledge said.

The Arson & Explosives Investigation Section of the Gwinnett County Department of Fire and Emergency Services is leading the investigation along with the assistance of the Gwinnett County Police Department and the ATF.

During the stop on North Price Road, the officer "developed suspicions that the vehicle he had encountered might be ferrying some sort of contraband," Gwinnett police spokesman Brian Kelly said Wednesday.

The officer asked for consent to search the vehicle and "discovered two suspicious objects in the passenger compartment," Kelly said.

A bomb squad and firefighters were sent to the scene, and officers X-rayed the objects "and were able to quickly confirm that they were explosive devices," Kelly said.

"After examination and analysis, fire investigators concluded that the two devices were manufactured with the intent to cause great bodily harm or even death," Kelly said.

Police arrested four people at the scene of the traffic stop, and took a fifth person into custody when they went to search a Buford home associated with those arrested.

Kelly said that at the house on Line Street, officers found more items "consistent with the materials used to manufacture the two destructive devices."

Police arrested William Dale Parten, 41, of Buford, Phillip Ray Duncan, 54, of Buford, Shirley Maddox, 62, of Buford, Michael Brewer, 42, of Winder and Matthew Henry Rothove, 44, of Flowery Branch. All are being held in the Gwinnett County Jail without bond, charged with possession of an explosives device.

It is still unclear as to why they had the devices and what their intent was, Rutledge said.