Two Cedar Rapids men charged after setting off improvised bombs

Mitchell A. Adney and Tim Bowen III, both 22, were charged Thursday with setting off several improvised chemical bombs in a southwest Cedar Rapids apartment complex.

Adney, of 1803 Second St. SE, and Bowen, of 1421 Seventh Ave. SE, set off the “MacGyver” bombs the night of Jan. 31 at the Hawthorne Hills complex, 2263 C St. SW, because Adney's former girlfriend lived there, fire department spokesman Greg Buelow said.

Police and firefighters were called to the complex about 10:40 p.m. after some of the bombs exploded. Several more of the devices that failed to go off were rendered harmless by police and firefighters, Buelow said.

Adney and Bowen were charged with reckless use of fire or explosives, a serious misdemeanor, because investigators “did not believe there was intent to harm, but rather to harass,” according to Buelow.

Adney and Bowen were released after an initial court appearance Thursday morning. If convicted, they could be sentenced to a year in prison and fined $1,875.