Maple Grove Man Accused of Threatening to Blow Up High Schools

Police say a Maple Grove man threatened to "blow up" and schools because he was "expressing his anger regarding being fired from the schools in January 2012," according to a criminal complaint filed Hennepin County Court.  

Robert Christopher Baker, 50, was charged Feb. 28 with making terroristic threats, a felony with a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $10,000 fine. Baker remains in the Hennepin County Jail on a $30,000 bond. He is scheduled to make a court appearance Thursday in Hennepin County District Court.

Baker was a substitute teacher for the , "employed at will and not a teacher on contract" according to Osseo School District 279 School/Community Relations Director Barbara Olson. "As an at-will employee, he was called upon only as needed," she said. 

According to the criminal complaint, compiled by Maple Grove Police Detective Robert Seidenkranz, Maple Grove police received a report from a parent on Monday, Feb. 27 about threats to blow up Maple Grove Senior High and Osseo Senior High schools.

The parent told police that his daughter told him about a Facebook posting by Baker, which included a cartoon figure holding what appeared to be a rocket launcher, with the caption, “First, we’ll blow up Osseo Senior. Then, we’ll blow up Maple Grove Senior,” according to the complaint.

Police questioned Baker, who admitted posting the cartoon and message about the schools because he was angry about "being fired from the schools in January 2012."

“The defendant stated that he did want to blow up the schools when the students were not present,” Seidenkranz’s complaint says.

The complaint notes that Baker was previously asked to leave all school district properties after making “offensive and obscene” statements about district employees and students, "including threats against staff members and their children."

Additional information added below as of March 2, 2012

Families at Maple Grove Senior High and Osseo Senior High received the following message from principals at the two schools, according to the Osseo School District. The message was sent via email and/or voicemail the evening of Feb. 29 to address the incident:

Earlier today, charges were filed against a former substitute teacher who occasionally worked in our building. The charges involve threats against Osseo Senior High and Maple Grove Senior High, and the individual is now in police custody.

Safety of students and staff is extremely important to us, so I want you to know about two key measures we are taking to promote school safety.

First, as part of our regular practice, we have rigorous safety protocols in place to limit building access and to monitor visitors. These protocols serve us well every single day.

Second, district leaders have been in regular communication with the Maple Grove Police Department about this matter and have already taken additional action, including filing a no trespass order against the individual earlier this year.

We take all safety concerns seriously. I am confident that the action of law enforcement, combined with our ongoing, rigorous safety protocols, will continue to promote a safe and healthy environment at our school.

Following today’s snow day, school will be back in session tomorrow, and I look forward to seeing your student at school.