UPDATE: Ex-USC student accused of carrying knife on campus

A former University of South Carolina law student was arrested Thursday on accusations that he was carrying a knife at the law school.

Craig C. Stanley was charged with breach of peace, according to USC.

Stanley, 30, was in the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center on Thursday, according to records. No other information about him was available.

Stanley asked to see a law school administrator when he was approached by campus police, USC spokesman Wes Hickman said. No other details of the incident were released.

The university issued a flier Thursday telling students, staff and faculty that Stanley was barred from campus and to report any sightings of him to police.

UPDATE

USC law school dean Robert Wilcox sent an email to students on Friday with more details about the incident, adding that no one was put directly in harm’s way.

A former student asked to see an associate dean Wednesday, Wilcox wrote. The former student was told the administrator was unavailable, but law school staff told the Wilcox that the former student appeared to have a hammer in his pocket. USC police were called after the former student left.

Wilcox wrote some law school officials, who the former student might contact, were told about the situation. An email was sent to students but did not name to the person who led to the call to police.

The former student returned to the law school building Thursday and police were alerted.

Wilcox wrote he met the former student outside the dean’s suite.

“He was calm and did not at any time display a weapon when talking with me or threaten the general population of the law school,” Wilcox wrote.

Police found a knife while they spoke with the former student, the dean wrote.

The school later sent some details about the former student after the arrest. Some students thought more information should have been shared sooner.

“There was no protective value to be gained by our detailing all of the events that had occurred, especially at a point when police were still in the building gathering information,” Wilcox wrote.

In addition to posting fliers about a former student, USC has hired a daytime security guard stationed near the law school’s front door.

“Again I regret the distress many of us have experienced,” Wilcox wrote. “I hope this provides some reassurance that your safety has not been disregarded at any time.”

Wilcox will meet with students Friday afternoon.

Andrew Shain

This story was originally published November 5, 2015 at 6:39 PM with the headline "UPDATE: Ex-USC student accused of carrying knife on campus."