Michigan State University scrambled to relocate some final exams after police said they discovered a man inside the school's largest academic building with household substances that could be used to run a methamphetamine lab. Xin Tong, 31, was charged Wednesday with malicious destruction of property and possessing substances to operate a meth lab, the AP reports. Wells Hall has been closed since Monday. Campus Police Chief Mike Yankowski did not explicitly say investigators discovered an active drug lab inside the building. But he noted that flooring, doors, and carpet would need to be cleaned or replaced. Damage is estimated at more than $20,000.
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," Yankowski said. "Those products alone might not be dangerous, but if you start mixing chemicals together there is a reaction." According to court records, Tong was carrying an expired Michigan State student ID, WWMT reports. Authorities say he's not a current MSU student and hasn't been enrolled since 2022, per the Lansing State Journal.
The Journal notes that Tong had apparently been visiting Wells Hall for weeks. His offense date is listed in court records as April 10, more than two weeks before police found him in the building. Michigan State in East Lansing is holding final exams this week followed by graduation events. The university says Wells Hall will remain closed Friday, with exams rescheduled and relocated. "This was kind of crazy considering I did have classes there, and I did have a final this week there," freshman Olivia Roshkowski tells CBS News. "My final got moved to online, so it worked out."
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