UPDATE: In an e-mail to the CSUN community sent late Friday afternoon, university President Jolene Koester said communication and cooperation between the university and family helped in dealing with the situation.
“While the immediate threat has been removed from the campus, and the student is no longer enrolled, the University will continue to monitor and take appropriate actions as warranted by any change in the individual’s status,” Koester said. “I want everyone to be assured that the safety and well-being of our campus community is of paramount importance at California State University, Northridge. In the event of any threat to campus safety, the University is prepared to assess and address the situation promptly and with university-wide cooperation.”
BEFORE: A former CSUN student charged with possession of explosive materials and having a gun on campus pleaded not guilty during his arraignment Friday in the San Fernando Superior Court.
CSUN Police arrested David Everson, 22, on Wednesday. He was being held at the Twin Towers Correction Facility in lieu of a $150,000 bond.
He is due back in court for a preliminary hearing Jan. 28.
In court, the District Attorney’s office indicated Everson threatened a psychiatrist and posed a serious risk and asked the bail be raised. Judge Lloyd Nash granted the request and raised the bail to $1 million.
Everson appeared disoriented in court. When the defendant’s attorney, Stanley Greenberg, was asked about his client’s mental state, Greenberg emphasized Everson did not have a prior criminal history.
“Of course he’s disoriented,” Greenberg said. “He’s a young man with no prior criminal history who is suddenly facing the loss of his freedom.”
In an interview with the Daily Sundial, CSUN Chief of Police Anne Glavin said it was Everson’s parents who initially expressed concern about his welfare.
“It first came to light a couple months back,” Glavin said. “The family calling was the first time the residence staff had any inkling something was wrong.”
A CSUN police officer accompanied a residence staff member on a “welfare check” to Everson’s dorm where they determined he was OK, Glavin said.
After Everson made threats against students and staff, a determination was made that Everson posed a danger to himself and others, and a mental health hold was placed on him, Glavin said. He was then placed in custody at a mental health facility.
Campus police discovered a firearm and materials to construct an explosive device in Everson’s dorm. He was arrested at the mental health facility and taken to the Twin Towers Corrections Facility, Glavin added.
“From the moment that we felt he was a danger to himself or others, we had him in custody,” Glavin said.
Everson’s family could not be reached for comment.
