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A UCF freshman, who was arrested Monday morning after allegedly causing an explosion in his Academic Village dorm room, has bonded out of Orange County jail for $25,000. The explosion was caused by a makeshift Adderall lab that was set up in his room.
He is being charged with manufacturing a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a college; sale, delivery, manufacture and possession of a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a specified area; and first-degree arson of dwelling, according to the police report.
Wendell McKee, a molecular and microbiology major, told police he has an amphetamine dependency that "interferes with his life," according to the police report.
McKee, 19, said he was not able to find a source to supply amphetamines and began to experiment producing his own.
Dave Gregorio, a biology major, lives in Hercules 109 and was there when the building was evacuated. Gregorio, 19, said he knows McKee and doesn't think he was producing methamphetamines.
"He made a mistake, he made bad choices, but it was not a meth lab," said Gregorio. "It may have been a drug lab, but he wasn't making methamphetamines."
The explosion occurred in McKee's dorm late Sunday night that caused Hercules 109 of Academic Village to be evacuated.
According to UCF News & Information, McKee was cooking a prescription drug on a hot plate, which caused the room to fill with smoke.
Earlier reports by UCF police stated McKee was attempting to make methamphetamine. The substance is being analyzed in a crime lab.
The police report states that when police entered McKee's room, it was entirely filled with smoke.
Police observed shattered glass along the bathroom sink and floor of the bedroom, as well as boxes of red matches and scattered matches on the carpet. Also on the sink was an unknown red substance covered on the glass, and a hot plate with a humidifier connected via several tubes.
The report continued that police noticed several jars containing the substance found on the glass, as well as open bottles of prescription pills and razor blades on McKee's desk. McKee wasn't in the room when police arrived, but entered shortly thereafter.
McKee has been banned from student housing pending the results of a student conduct review, according to UCF News & Information. He could face punishment including, but not limited to, expulsion.
Police and firefighters responded to the scene before midnight Monday after reports of smoke in one of the rooms, according to UCF News and Information. Residents were forced to evacuate for safety concerns.
Residents of Hercules 109 and employees of the Department of Housing and Residence Life waited in the courtyard area in front of the building while the safety of the building was assessed.
The Orange County Haz Mat Team was called and tested the air with a hand-held monitor and deemed the air to be safe. UCF officials confirmed those findings with an assessment of their own.
Residents of the first floor were allowed back in around 4 a.m., according to a statement by UCF News & Information.
The two students whose room connected to McKee's were provided a temporary place to stay by the housing department.
UCF Police Investigator Eric Walton told the Future the explosion produced no fire and no one was hurt.
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