Felony charges filed in burning of UNC-CH tree
The man accused of causing a small explosion on Thursday that started a fire at a popular tree on the campus of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill was taken to a local hospital for a mental evaluation, according to the Orange County District Attorney's Office.
Posted — UpdatedJoshua Daniel Edwards, a 24-year-old former student at UNC-Chapel Hill, will be charged with malicious use of explosives to inflict injury, malicious use of explosives to damage property, assembling a weapon of mass destruction, setting fire to grass or a grassland, assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury and filing a false police report.
Edwards remains at UNC Hospitals, where he was taken after the Thursday afternoon incident to undergo a mental evaluation. He will be taken into custody upon his release.
Authorities said a small device detonated at the Davie Poplar tree, which was planted when UNC-Chapel Hill was founded. Police later searched a vehicle in Carrboro they believe belonged to Edwards but didn't find anything dangerous.
Professor Dan Reichart, who tried to put out the fire at the base of the tree, was burned on his face and arms when an explosion caused a fireball to erupt around him.
Reichart said he was walking across McCorkle Place on campus when he saw the fire at the base of Davie Poplar.
"I was an Eagle scout as a kid, so I've had lots of experience with fires, and I didn't think this one was too big to kick out," he said. "I tried but it grew very quickly, and then it exploded."
Arborists inspected the tree on Friday and said it will be OK.
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