CLAY COUNTY, Fla. – A freshman Stetson University student from Fleming Island was arrested in Clay County and charged with threatening other students with bombs and gas, according to DeLand police Chief J.D. Umberger.
Authorities said police were called Sunday afternoon after "specific and concerning" threats in an online forum were made toward people on campus. Police learned Griffin Powell, 18, was not on campus at the time of the threats, so they obtained an arrest warrant and he was arrested at his home Sunday night.
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“All I’ll say is about the nature of threats is they were specific and they were concerning to us. There was some references made to bombs and gas and they were very specific and we immediately took action,” Umberger said.
Another student saw the online threat and contacted campus safety officials, who in turn contacted the DeLand Police Department. Powell was arrested in his hometown in Clay County at a home on Mainard Branch Court on Sunday, police said. He did not have bombs or bomb-making materials in his possession when he was arrested.
“Nobody was in danger on the campus,” Umberger said, adding that no specific individuals were named in the threat.
Although no one answered when News4Jax reporter Corley Peel went to Powell’s house and where he was arrested, neighbors said they never thought he would threaten a school.
“I’m glad to see police are out there following up on those kind of things and making the arrest if it’s appropriate,” said a neighbor who requested anonymity.
Neighbor Lisa Danenberg told News4Jax that it’s a shame a young person would think violence would solve problems.
“There has to be a way to settle conflict and making bomb threats is not the answer,” Danenberg said.
According to Powell’s arrest report, he was placed on suicide watch based on comments he made before he was taken to the jail.
Griffin was charged with threating to throw/place/discharge a destructive device. He posted $20,000 bond and was released.
DeLand police said Griffin has been banned from the Stetson campus.
Stetson University president Dr. Wendy B. Libby issued the following statement to students, faculty and staff:
Stetson University has trespassed this student from campus. He has been notified that he is interimly suspended. Stetson goes through a process to review issues of student conduct and will do so in this case.