Jan 14, 2014 02:52 PM EST By Jaleesa Baulkman, UniversityHerald Reporter

An evacuation of approximately 300 students from one of Texas State University's dormitories early Tuesday morning was prompted by a "suspicious device and package" found in the truck of a man police originally spotted for violating the campus' smoke-free policy, The San Antonio Express-News reported.

Clayton Warren, 24, was arrested on three charges in connection with the bomb scare and dorm evacuation at the university.  He is facing two "hoax bomb" charges and one charge of evading arrest.

Around 12:30 a.m. Warren was spotted by a Texas State University Police Officer smoking near the university's school center, violating the campus' smoking ban. When the officer approached him, they said Warren tried to run but was quickly taken into custody.

Officers searched Warren's truck and found what appeared to potentially be an explosive device with an ignition mechanism attached.  The university police called in the Austin Police Department's bomb squad to help and at about 1:45 a.m., students were evacuated the College Inn residence hall to the student recreation center.

"At first we just thought it was a joke we didn't really understand and then once we followed Twitter we saw it was kind of serious," Bryanna Brownstone, first-year fashion major, told KXAN News.

University police also shut down the streets around College Inn. 

The Austin Bomb Squad arrived at 3 a.m. By 4 a.m. the squad had determined the device was not explosive, "but had discovered another suspicious package in the vehicle. After X-rays proved inconclusive, the package was detonated by the bomb squad at 5:46 a.m. as a precautionary measure," the university said in a statement.

Jayme Blaschke, a spokesman for the university, told The San Antonio Express-News that no bomb threat phone call was made from Warren, but cops discovered the hoax bombs in his truck after they apprehended him.

"I don't know that any intent has been established," Blaschke said. "But these fake bombs were made to look like the real thing. The Austin Bomb Squad took them seriously. I can't speculate on a motive - at this point that remains unknown."

KXAN News reported that Texas State University has gone back to its normal schedule.

Warren, who officials say is not a student at the university, was processed into Hays County Jail Tuesday afternoon. He is expected to see a magistrate judge on Wednesday morning.

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