A Johns Creek man is in jail after trying to set off a bomb at a Forsyth County car dealership, police said.
Quinton Gregory Smith, 34, was arrested Thursday and charged with possessing an explosive device and second-degree property damage for hurling a homemade explosive device onto the sales lot of RBM Mercedes of Atlanta-North, authorities said.
Forsyth County Sheriff's spokeswoman Karleen Chalker said authorities believe Smith tossed a glass jar containing explosive material at or near a car parked on the lot early Monday morning.
"This device was constructed to detonate on impact," Sheriff Ted Paxton said. "However, that did not happen."
The device appeared to have been lit by Smith, Paxton said, and it became hot enough to damage the car and melt some asphalt nearby, but it never detonated.
GBI explosives specialists are analyzing the compounds found in the device, Chalker said.
Security cameras gave Smith away, Paxton said.
"Once we looked at the surveillance video with the management at the business, we were able to identify a suspect who happened to be a man who had been terminated by the business the day before," the sheriff said. "We believe his motive was revenge."
Authorities did not disclose Smith's former job at the dealership.
Investigators searched the man's home and found enough evidence to arrest him, authorities said. The suspect was being held without bond in the Forsyth County Detention Center.
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