Possible explosion averted

A “grenade looking device” was found in a male bathroom on the

second floor of Morgan Library this morning, prompting the response

of officers from the Fort Collins Police Services, the Larimer

County Sheriffs Office and the CSU Police Department.

Police officers responding to a suspicious activity complaint in

the library found a possible explosive device. Two suspects, an

adult male and a juvenile female, were taken into custody,

according to Dexter Yarbrough, chief of the CSU Police

Department.

“Officers found an adult male and juvenile female getting ready

for, or already in the process of, some sort of sexual activity in

a (male) bathroom on the second floor of the library,” Yarbrough

said. “The device was found with them.”

The adult male taken into custody was found to be in possession

of hypodermic needles and an unknown narcotic. Police are still

investigating, but Yarbrough said he believes the male was in

possession of enough drugs to warrant a felony charge.

The library was evacuated once the possible explosive was found.

Police bomb technicians brought the device out of the library and

detonated it to ensure its proper disposal. This minor explosion

caught the attention of some people on campus.

“People were telling me ‘Move back! Move back!'” said Brian

Bouchard, a senior majoring in computer information systems.

“Before I knew it, I was hearing people say ‘fire in the hole!’ and

then there was an explosion. It was fairly small, but enough to get

everyone riled up.”

The exact material of the possible explosive device will not be

know until further testing can be done. That testing will probably

not be completed until next week according to Karl Swenson, a

lieutenant with the CSUPD.

Capt. Bob Chaffee of the CSUPD said the efforts of the

responding officers are commendable and believes this incident is a

one-time event, given the facts police have gathered about the case

thus far.

“I think it was a really coordinated effort. The first officers

on the scene did exactly what needed to be done,” Chaffee said.

“Once we believed it was a possible explosive, the building was

evacuated immediately and the parameter was secured.”

Nate Greeley, a prospective student visiting CSU from Houston

Texas, saw this morning’s events unfolding as part of his campus

tour.

“I didn’t even know what it was, but (it is) pretty freaky,”

Greeley said.

Despite watching police bomb units, dogs and officers operating

behind the crime scene tape, Greeley said this does not deter him

from wanting to come to CSU.

“It seems police on campus really know what they’re doing. I

feel pretty safe.”

After some investigation library staff were allowed back in

around 11 a.m. with students following shortly afterwards.

Collegian reporter Aaron Brachfeld contributed to this

story.