A 25-year-old Milwaukee man has been criminally charged with two misdemeanors, accused of loading a handgun inside Golda Meir Library at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

The Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office charged Elmo Daniels with one count of carrying a concealed weapon and one count of carrying a firearm in a public building.

According to a criminal complaint filed Monday, Daniels told officers he was at the library to "do drugs in the back" and "use the Wi-Fi," adding that he sleeps at the facility sometimes. When asked if he had any other intentions he responded, "I was just getting high," the complaint says.

Daniels told officers that he did not have a concealed carry permit, but bringing a firearm into a university building is violation of state law regardless of permit status.

UWM police reported at 1:54 p.m. March 16 they were notified that a man was loading a firearm on the third floor of the library. Upon officers' arrival, a female who is only identified with the initials RB told an officer that she was seated on the third floor when Daniels waved at her and walked past her a few times, the complaint states.

Shortly thereafter, the female says she observed Daniels load the gun by inserting a magazine into the magazine well. The female said she did not see Daniels again after he loaded the gun.

Roughly an hour after being seen loading the gun, Daniels was taken into custody off-campus on East North Avenue at North Commerce Street near RiverView Residence Hall, according to the complaint. A UWM police spokesperson said Tuesday that police were able to utilize a "robust system of security cameras" and confirm that Daniels had left campus shortly after leaving the library.

Police discovered a handgun loaded with a round in the chamber and a magazine in the magazine well inside Daniels' fanny pack, while also finding a second magazine that had 14 live rounds, the complaint states. Police also reported discovering two blue pills, suspected to be ​methamphetamine or fentanyl.

Daniels admitted, "Yeah, it's my firearm. I have a lot of firearms," the complaint states. When asked how many firearms he had, Daniels said, "A lot, but that's none of your business," the complaint says.

The university did not inform library staff of the situation until the following morning. A spokesperson with UWM police said the agency was waiting to confirm details. An employee told the Journal Sentinel last week that they were "shocked" with how the university handled communication.

In addition to the library staff, the incident drew a reaction from the student body after the university opted to not send an alert or evacuate the building despite the report of a man with a gun, saying that by the time the officers arrived, the man left the building. The university also didn't send a campus-wide email following the incident, informing students and staff of what happened, until Monday.

"Throughout the incident, at no time did the individual indicate an intent to discharge the weapon or threaten any individual with violence," UWM police said Tuesday.

"If a report constitutes an ongoing threat to the safety of our community, we send a RAVE alert and provide instructions on how to act. Because the man was off campus by the time police were notified, and the incident was resolved within minutes of that notification, UWM did not issue a RAVE alert or a campus wide communication."

UWM police said discussions regarding security protocols at the building are "ongoing."

If convicted on both counts, Daniels could be fined up to $20,000 and be imprisoned up to 1½ years.

Contact Drake Bentley at (414) 391-5647 or DBentley1@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @DrakeBentleyMJS. 

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Gunman at Golda Meir Library in Milwaukee said he wanted to do drugs