Explosive Device Found During Traffic Stop in Stephens County; One Arrested

On Friday, February 7, 2025, Stephens County Sheriff’s deputies and Georgia State Patrol troopers responded to a traffic stop in the northwest corner of the Ingles/Belk parking lot near South State Bank in Toccoa, GA, at around 10 p.m. During the stop, officers discovered what appeared to be a small improvised explosive device (IED).

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) was called in to assist with the containment and disposal of the device. GBI’s Bomb Disposal Unit safely contained and detonated the IED, and no other explosives were found during a thorough search of the vehicle.

One individual was arrested and transported to the Stephens County Jail. The scene was cleared, and authorities have confirmed the area is now safe. The investigation remains ongoing.