- Share this article on Facebook
- Share this article on Twitter
- Share this article on Flipboard
- Share this article on Email
- Show additional share options
- Share this article on Linkedin
- Share this article on Pinit
- Share this article on Reddit
- Share this article on Tumblr
- Share this article on Whatsapp
- Share this article on Print
- Share this article on Comment
The Disneyland staffer accused of carrying out the dry-ice explosion at the theme park on Tuesday, May 28, has pleaded not guilty.
Christian Barnes, 22, entered his plea from his cell at Orange County Jail via a videotape arraignment, according to the Los Angeles Times. He was ordered to be held on $500,000 bail, which is half of the original amount.??
PHOTOS: When You Wish Upon a Death Star: The Surprising Symmetry of Star Wars and Disney
Authorities said a first explosion took place around 4 p.m. Tuesday in Toontown. They believe that after Barnes set off the first blast, shortly after his shift ended, he put a second water bottle filled with dry ice into a trash can before leaving Toontown.
The area was evacuated as police officers and a bomb squad investigated the scene. Toontown was reopened around 7:30 p.m. that night.
Barnes was booked “on suspicion of possessing a destructive device” hours after the blast.
“He’s the nicest person I know,” his grandmother Flora Barnes, one of several family members present, told reporters at the Times on Thursday, May 28. “He’s a wonderful kid. He’s a kid who wouldn’t hurt anyone.??”
STORY: The Insider’s Guide to Disneyland
On Wednesday, May 29, Disneyland spokesperson Suzi Brown told The Hollywood Reporter: “We take matters like this very seriously and are working closely with local authorities.”
A police news release on Wednesday morning stated: “Barnes is cooperating with investigators and has indicated this is an isolated incident with unanticipated impacts.”
Related Stories
THR Newsletters
Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day