Research Building Off Limits As Vandalism Investigation Continues

GOLDEN, Colo. (CBS4) - All floors of a building on the Colorado School of Mines campus are closed while investigators try to determine who is responsible for causing extensive damage there over the weekend.

The vandalism was done on Saturday night in the General Research Laboratory building. The building houses the school's Geology Museum plus several laboratories.

"There are a number of different safety showers that are in the building and those, we believe, were turned on, and so the water quickly gathered," said school spokesman Peter Han.

The monetary amount of damage caused by the vandals could be in the millions, and an employee with the School of Mines told CBS4 the damage to his lab means some of his research projects could see significant delays.

"I know my lab is impacted and a lot of friends' labs are impacted and it's going to set us back research-wise for a quite a while," said the man, who wished to remain anonymous.

Two men admitted to campus police that they were in the building when the damage was done but at this point they are not being called suspects. They came forward Monday night soon after security images allegedly showing them roaming the halls of the GRL building were released by officials.

Investigators say they are not looking for anyone else involved in the case.

Han says they are looking into information the men provided about the case.