Mar 6, 2008 1:12 pm US/Pacific
Explosion In Dorm Preceded UC Davis Bomb Scare
UC Davis Dorm Evacuated, 2 Explosive Devices Found
Explosion In Building D Took Place At 6:00 PM
DAVIS (CBS13/AP) ―
Police are now reporting that the evacuation at a UC Davis dormitory complex came after a small explosion took place in the building. Police received a call from a concerned parent nearly three hours later, telling authorities that her daughter said she heard an explosion inside the dormitory.
"We are particularly thankful that someone did the right thing and came forward to report this potentially harmful activity", said UC Davis Police Chief Annette Spicuzza. "We are pleased that the safety and well being of UC Davis residents has not been compromised".
Other students told CBS13 that it sounded like a firework. Police say the explosion took place in building D of the Tercero complex.
"Campus police and fire officials evacuated one portion of our student housing complex as a precaution, and we commend those students for their cooperation with authorities throughout the evening," said Fred Wood, vice chancellor for student affairs. "The evacuation went smoothly, as did their return back to their rooms."
A UC Davis freshman was arrested this morning after police found explosive materials in a dorm room last night, forcing the more than 400 students to evacuate their dorms at the Tercero Student Housing complex.
Authorities say they were called out to the school last night after they received an phone call reporting the materials. There, authorities found what appeared to be two pipe bombs, sparking the evacuation of approximately 400 students from the Tercero D dormitory and surrounding dorms. Students have been cleared to return to all dorms except for Tercero D. All activities on campus are scheduled as normal.
Yolo County Bomb Squad and agents from the FBI and ATF were involved in the investigation.
Police say after questioning four students they arrested 18-year-old Mark Woods, a freshman economics major from Torrance. Woods is facing two felony charges, including possessing explosives to make a bomb.
Woods' roommate Robert Chao says that Woods wasn't plotting to do harm to anyone. "He had no intention of blowing anything up. He had no ill intentions as a person. That's not him."
Authorities say there was enough material to cause serious harm. "It could have been lethal," said Paul Pfotenhauer of the UC Davis Fire Department.
"Police investigators say there is nothing to indicate that this case was related to a terrorist act," a university statement said. "The investigation is continuing."
Authorities believe it was an isolated incident and said there was no need to detonate any devices.
Most of the students who had to evacuate the dorm room ended up pulling couches together in the dining hall and passed the time with movies. Many of them have classes this morning.
(© 2008 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
