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.
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.