Mountain View Tower evacuated for chemical spill

This article was updated Jan. 23 to reflect new information. 

Around 8 p.m. on Jan. 16, a chemical spill at Mountain View Tower prompted the evacuation of students and a significant emergency response. The incident began when residents reported chemical smells on the first floor of the residence hall, leading to immediate safety measures.

“There was this cloud of smoke outside the stairwell on the first floor,” said Lily Cook, resident of Mountain View Tower. “It smelled really bad, like melted plastic or rotten eggs.”

Police and fire investigators were called, and officers investigating the alarm found the first floor covered in gaseous hydrochloric acid. Evacuated students were told to go to other buildings on campus such as The Junction, and anyone who was exposed to fumes was directed to an Aggie Shuttle bus outside the Gateway Parking Terrace located near the Daryl Chase Fine Arts Center. They were quarantined for several hours to avoid further possible contamination. 

“We weren’t really being informed on what was going on,” Cook said. “We were outside for another 30 minutes in the cold, and then they got us all on a bus. They didn’t tell us anything other than ‘You were exposed to some fumes — hang out on this bus.'”

Cook also expressed concern for her cat who was left inside the building during this time.

A large EMS response followed with Logan Fire, Logan Hazmat, USU Police and many other USU entities.

During the investigation, authorities identified Joshua Peter Jager, 20-year-old USU student, as the individual responsible for the incident. According to an affidavit of probable cause filed in Logan District Court written by USU Police investigator Tanner Hulse, “Jager approached officers and admitted that he set the alarm off.”

Jager had already been on the police’s radar. Officers responded to a fire alarm set off in his dorm days earlier on Jan.13.

“Upon entering the room, Officers and Fire discovered a large amount of chemicals inside. Amongst the chemicals were things such as silver nitrate, potassium carbonate, and many more chemicals,” Hulse wrote. “Officers also observed various machinery, tools, and large quantities of batteries.”

Officers suspected there was possible drug or explosive making, and bomb technicians were called to the scene. Jager denied any bomb or drug making inside his dorm room, and after the room was cleared, Jager was warned to remove all chemicals from his room and cease any “cooking” in his dorm room.

On Jan. 16, six hours before the fire alarm would go off again, Jager was brought into USU Police Department to be questioned by officers and the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force about the previous incident. 

“Jager denied any ties to [terroristic organizations] and stated he made a mistake by bringing the chemicals to his dorm. Jager was then warned by the FBI and Your Affiant that Jager’s conduct must immediately cease,” Hulse wrote.

“I think it’s just completely ridiculous that they interviewed this guy six hours before the whole thing happened and they knew he was dangerous,” Cook said. “They knew he had these chemicals in his room, and all they did was say ‘Hey, stop it’ and just took him at his word when he said he would.”

According to a Cache County Jail booking sheet, Jager was arrested late Thursday night and is facing a Class A misdemeanor for “Cause Catastrophe – Recklessly Caused” and a Class C misdemeanor for disorderly conduct.

This incident has raised concerns among students and parents about safety protocols and emergency preparedness on campus. Cook was already planning on moving out but now feels a sense of urgency.

“We were planning on waiting a week or two at most to get things more ready at our next place, but after this situation, we’re trying to get out as fast as possible,” Cook said. “A lot of us are looking to move out because we don’t want to be here anymore.”

The Utah Statesman reached out to USU Chief of Police Jason Brei for a comment. 

“Multiple USU departments have been involved in ensuring that the space is safe for our students to occupy. As far as the criminal side goes, we are continuing an active investigation and assessing further criminal charge,” Brei wrote in a text.

There have been zero reported injuries for this incident.

Speculations on the incident have circled through several social media and online platforms including the subreddit r/usu.

A post titled “what really happened at MVT” claims “They [USU] are obviously trying to put it under the rug.”

USU has put out an official statement, part of which states, “Interim Vice President for Student Affairs Krystin Deschamps also sent a message to the residents of Mountain View Tower that the CARE Office is available to help with academic issues caused by the evacuation.”

On Jan. 22, an Aggie Alert went out to students and staff instructing another evacuation of Mountain View Tower.

“Out of an abundance of caution, USU officials are clearing Mountain View Tower this evening at 6 p.m. before hazardous materials experts complete an inventory of items from the room,” the alert said in part.
“This is an ongoing mitigation effort, but law enforcement and environmental safety professionals expect that this will be the last time they will need to clear the building.”

There has been no publicly declared decision on if Jager will be able to continue as a student at USU, but court documents indicate he is set to appear in court for a preliminary hearing on Jan. 27.

This is an active investigation, and further updates will be made as the Statesman receives them.