Increased security has been put in place at a Kansas University building, after a former employee allegedly returned to campus with a rifle in the bed of a military surplus truck, a university spokeswoman confirmed Thursday.

David Young, 46, who worked as a senior research assistant for the Kansas Geological Survey, was charged with multiple crimes Thursday, including a firearm violation, stalking, telephone harassment and violation of a protective order, for crimes that allegedly occurred after his KU employment ended July 8.

“Clearly he is exhibiting a heightened risk to the community,” Eve Kemple, an assistant Douglas County district attorney, said in court Thursday. “His behavior has escalated.”

The KGS, housed in Moore Hall, near 19th and Iowa streets, was not on lock-down Thursday, but KU spokeswoman Jill Jess said security precautions were being taken. She said Young had been banned from campus.

Wednesday morning, KU police were called after employees reported Young was in the parking lot of Moore Hall, even though he’d been told he could not be at KU without supervision, Jess said.

“From outside of his open bed truck, officers saw what appeared to be a rifle,” she said. “They removed it from the vehicle … and determined it to be inoperable.”

Jess said Young, who was employed by KU for nearly 17 years, told officers he was there to visit employees inside the building. Officers did not allow him inside, determined he was not an imminent threat and allowed him to leave, she said.

A short time later, Douglas County sheriff’s deputies arrested him, said Sgt. Steve Lewis, sheriff’s spokesman. On Thursday, he was charged under a state law that prohibits people from having a gun if they have been involuntarily committed for mental health reasons. Young was also charged with criminal damage to property because he allegedly damaged the interior of a sheriff’s vehicle during his arrest.

The Lecompton man, who is being held in Douglas County Jail on $250,000 bond, has another court appearance Monday.

Jess said the university could not discuss why Young no longer works at KU.