Police Say Friend Hid Evidence After Blast at UC Davis Chemist's Apartment

David Snyder's Davis apartment exploded in a chemical blast on Jan. 17.

Yolo County officials have requested an arrest warrant for a friend of former UC Davis chemist David Snyder, saying the friend concealed evidence.

Authorities say Tashari El-Sheikh on Jan. 17 hid evidence after chemicals exploded in Snyder's apartment, and requested an arrest warrant on Wednesday.

Chemical and Engineering News reports police officials testified in court that El-Sheikh "put firearms in Snyder’s apartment into a safe and removed several bottles of chemicals" and other items.

El-Sheikh is listed on UC Davis' website as a postdoctorate employee in the department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. The Davis Enterprise reports he is a childhood friend of Snyder, and is currently out of the country.

Snyder's attorney has said the explosion was an accident.

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