Man charged with possessing meth lab chemicals in Michigan State building
EAST LANSING, Mich. — Michigan State University moved quickly to move some final exams after police said they discovered a man inside the school’s largest academic building with household substances that could be used to run a meth lab.
The 31-year-old man was charged Wednesday with malicious destruction of property and possession of substances to operate a methamphetamine lab. Wells Hall has been closed since Monday.
Campus Police Chief Mike Yankowski did not explicitly state that investigators found an active drug lab inside the building. But he noted that floor coverings, doors and carpet would need to be cleaned or replaced.
Citing federal privacy law, Yankowski declined to say whether the man was a student. He was ordered held in jail on $500,000 bail.
Police responding to a trespassing call found the man inside the building Sunday evening with several bags of liquids, which turned out to be hydrochloric acid, methanol, isopropyl alcohol, acetone and butane, the chief said.
“Most of these items are household items,” Yankowski said. “These products alone may not be dangerous, but if you start mixing chemicals there is a reaction.”
Michigan State in East Lansing is holding final exams this week, followed by graduation ceremonies.
