UC Davis today (Jan. 24) released the following statement regarding developments related to a Jan. 17 explosion in a campus apartment:

David Snyder, 32, remains in custody following his arraignment today in Yolo County Superior Court on 10 felony charges related to the Jan. 17 explosion. Snyder is being held in lieu of $2 million bail, pending a bail hearing set for Feb. 8.

“The safety of the entire university community — students, staff, faculty and visitors — is our top priority,” said Ralph J. Hexter, UC Davis provost and executive vice chancellor. “While the police investigation is ongoing, if it becomes apparent that there is more that should be done to help ensure safety on our campus, we are committed to taking all necessary and appropriate steps.”

As immediate, interim measures, the administration has:

• Asked the UC Davis Police Department to evaluate how we might strengthen our communication with members of the campus community about the state law that prohibits firearms on campus, with particular focus on possession of firearms in student housing.
• Initiated a focused administrative review of current practices within the Department of Chemistry regulating the storage, security and disposal of hazardous materials. Obviously, theft of university property for personal use is against university policy and is a crime.
• Conducted meetings with both concerned residents and neighbors of the Russell Park housing complex as well as students, faculty and staff in the chemistry department.

Additionally, as part of the ongoing investigation, UC Davis police today coordinated an on-site inspection of the laboratory in which Snyder was a junior researcher. Some chemicals were removed during the inspection and will be disposed of properly. 

We want to thank our community for its continued understanding of the need to limit information about the ongoing criminal investigation at this time, both to protect the integrity of the process and to ensure due process to the accused.

We would like to thank the UC Davis Police Department and all of the law enforcement agencies that have collaborated on this investigation for their continuing efforts.

Updates will be posted on the UC Davis News & Information page as additional information becomes available.

• Arraignment and Jan. 17 incident information

• Campus resources for coping with emergencies