A Joshua Tree man was escorted off the Copper Mountain College campus by Sheriff deputies after they discovered knives in his possession. Sheriff’s Sergeant Rick Millard said Danny Richards, 55, was in a classroom with other students about 9:30 a.m. Wednesday when he told his classmates he was “Guardian of the Classroom” and made other suspicious comments. Students notified college administrators, who contacted the Sheriff’s department as a precautionary measure. Six deputies arrived, questioned Richards, and found two knives—one in his backpack, and one on his person. Richards told deputies he always carries the knives for his own protection. Millard noted that Richards made no statements that he wanted to harm his classmates or himself. Danny Richards was escorted off the campus by deputies, but he was not arrested. An administrative hearing will be held at the college before Richards will be allowed to return to campus.
