East Lansing, Michigan – Michigan State University scrambled to change the location of some final exams after police said they discovered a man inside the school’s largest academic building in possession of household items that could be used to run a methamphetamine lab.
The 31-year-old was charged Wednesday with malicious destruction of property and possession of materials to operate a methamphetamine lab. Wells Hall has been closed since Monday.
Campus Police Chief Mike Jankowski did not explicitly say that investigators discovered an active drug lab inside the building. But he noted that the floors, doors and carpets need to be cleaned or replaced.
Citing federal privacy law, Jankowski declined to specify whether the man was a student. He was sentenced to prison on $500,000 cash bail.
Police responding to a trespassing call discovered the man inside the building Sunday night with multiple 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,” Jankowski said. “These products alone may not be dangerous, but if you start mixing chemicals together, there will be a reaction.”
Michigan State East Lansing holds final exams this week followed by graduation events.