USU student releases chemical gas in dorm, forces mass evacuation hours after FBI terror questioning
AND Utah State University student was arrested after authorities said he contaminated his dorm room with hydrochloric acid gas, forcing a mass evacuation, just hours after he was questioned by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force.
Joshua Peter Jager, 20, was arrested Thursday night and charged with causing disaster reckless and improper behavior, according to the indictment.
USU authorities responded to a fire alarm shortly before 7:45 p.m. Thursday at Mountain View Tower and found the entire first floor covered in a vaporous substance, later determined to be hydrochloric acid gas, according to a probable cause affidavit filed with the First District Court to the court.
Utah State University (Utah State University)
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The alarm was triggered by “mass evacuation” of every person who lived in the residence, and included EMS, the Logan Fire Department, HAZMAT and USU Police, according to court documents.
Days earlier, USU police officers responded to Jager’s Mountain View Tower home on Monday after a fire alarm went off in his room, according to court documents.
He allegedly told authorities he boiled water and vinegar to make potatoes, but they later found a large stash of chemicals – including silver nitrate and potassium carbonate – along with machinery, tools and many batteries.
Suspecting that there might be “drug or explosive production,” police called bomb technicians to the scene, where they seized the chemicals, according to the affidavit. The room was later deemed safe, and Jager was told to remove all chemicals and stop cooking in his dorm.
Jager was brought to the USU Police Department at 11:30 a.m. Thursday and questioned about the reason for the chemicals in his room, according to court documents. He claimed that he had had the chemicals for years and had not used them to make explosives or drugs.
The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force joined the interview and questioned him about “any connections he has with any terrorist organizations,” which he denied, according to the affidavit. He claimed he made a “mistake” by bringing chemicals into the dorm.
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Then they were looking for him FBI and a certified peace officer to stop using the chemicals and if he found any other chemicals in his bedroom, to contact the police so they could be properly disposed of, according to court documents.
During the mass evacuation, which occurred just six hours after the FBI questioning, Jager admitted to setting off the alarm and said he found more chemicals that he was trying to “neutralize.”
Cache County Circuit Court Judge Angela Fonnesbeck granted Jagger a $2,500 bond Friday morning, according to a court order.
Everyone forced to leave the dorm had to pass through the gas, causing a “contamination problem,” according to the affidavit.
FBI agent in jacket waving office insignia. (iStock)
The initial estimate for cleanup and restoration was approximately $10,000 to $20,000, according to court documents. Labor and overtime costs will “significantly” increase costs.
In a statement released Friday, the university said the investigation is ongoing and “other charges” may be added.
“USU Housing has found spaces in other USU buildings and on the Aggie Shuttle bus to keep students out of the elements while they wait to determine if decontamination is needed or to be let into their room around midnight,” the statement said. “No other students should have been decontaminated.”
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Interim Vice President for Student Affairs Krystin Deschamps sent a message to Mountain View Tower residents saying the CARE office is available to help with academic issues caused by the evacuation.
