Michigan State University police said Wednesday evening that 31-year-old Xin Tong is facing felony charges after an investigation tied to the evacuation of Wells Hall earlier this week. The charges include malicious destruction of a building over $20,000 and felony controlled substance-operate/maintain lab involving methamphetamine.
MSU police said officers first made contact with Tong inside Wells Hall on Sunday, then evacuated the building on Monday after the presence of an unidentified chemical was reported. The university originally planned to reopen Wells Hall on Tuesday, but kept it closed all week instead.
MSU Department of Police and Public Safety Chief Mike Yankowski said police were limited in what they could disclose because the case is still active. He said the chemicals involved included sodium hydroxide pellets, hydrochloric acid, methanol, isopropyl alcohol, acetone and butane, and said Tong had those chemicals on his person. The university also said multiple substances that can be legally purchased in retail stores or online were identified.
Multiple tests by the Office of Environmental Health and Safety found the environment in Wells Hall did not pose a risk to the community, according to MSU police. Officials said the building closure was extended so investigators could gather evidence and environmental and facilities staff could inspect the site, clean it, assess damage and begin remediation. MSU said there continues to be no risk to the campus community and that safety remains its top priority.
Wells Hall is Michigan State’s largest academic building, which made the closure especially disruptive as exams were relocated and the investigation continued around one of the university’s busiest spaces. The case now turns on the criminal allegations and the extent of the damage police say was tied directly to the activity inside the building.
