Authorities return to the terrorist's home in New Orleans
The Houston FBI and local authorities returned to Shamsuddin Jabbar's home as their investigation into the deadly New Year's Eve attack in New Orleans continued. (Derek Schock for Fox News Digital)
A Utah State University A student was arrested after authorities said he contaminated his dorm with hydrochloric acid gas, prompting mass evacuations, just hours after he was questioned by the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force.
Joshua Peter Jagger, 20, was arrested Thursday night and charged Causing a disaster Reckless and disorderly conduct, according to the indictment.
California State University authorities responded to a fire alarm just before 7:45 p.m. Thursday at the Mountain View Tower and found the entire first floor covered in a vaporous substance, later found to be hydrochloric acid gas, according to a probable cause affidavit filed in 1st District Court.
Utah State University (Utah State University)
The alarm led toMass evacuation“From everyone living in the dormitory, EMS, Logan Fire Department, Logan HAZMAT and USU Police were involved, according to court documents.
Days earlier, USU police officers responded to Jager's Mountain View Tower residence on Monday, after a fire alarm went off in his room, according to court documents.
He allegedly told authorities he was boiling water and vinegar to make potatoes, but they later found a large quantity of chemicals – including silver nitrate and potassium carbonate – along with machinery, tools and several batteries.
Suspecting possible “drug or explosive manufacturing,” police called bomb technicians to the scene, where they confiscated the chemicals, according to the affidavit. The room was later deemed safe, and Jagger was asked to remove all chemicals and stop cooking in his residence.
Jagger was brought to the Ohio State University Police Department at 11:30 a.m. Thursday and questioned about why the chemicals were in his room, according to court documents. He claimed he had the chemicals for years and did not use them to make explosives or drugs.
the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force He joined the interview and they asked him about “any ties he has to any terrorist organizations,” which he denied, according to the affidavit. He claimed he made a “mistake” by bringing the chemicals into the residence.
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Then it was needed before Federal Bureau of Investigation A peace officer is certified to stop using chemicals and if he finds any other chemicals in his residence, he is to call police so they can be disposed of properly, according to court documents.
During the mass evacuation, which occurred just six hours after FBI questioning, Jagger admitted to setting off the alarm and said he found more chemicals he was trying to “neutralize.”
Cache County Circuit Court Judge Angela Funsbeck granted Jagger $2,500 bail Friday morning, according to the court order.
Everyone who was forced to leave the residence had to pass through the gas, which caused a “contamination problem,” according to the affidavit.
An FBI agent wearing a jacket bearing the bureau's 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 add “significantly” to expenses.
The university said in a statement issued Friday that the investigation is ongoing and “more charges” may be added.
“USU Housing found spaces in other USU buildings and on the Aggie Shuttle to keep student residents out of the elements while they waited to determine if decontamination was needed or to allow them to return to their room around midnight,” according to the statement. “There was no need to disinfect other students.”
Interim Vice President for Student Affairs Christine Deschamps sent a message to Mountain View Tower residents that the CARE office is available to assist with academic issues resulting from the evacuation.
