Man Accused of Threatening Minnesota Senator Arrested
BY MN CRIME STAFF
A Hubbard County man is charged after police say he threatened to kill a Minnesota state senator and carry out a mass shooting at the State Capitol.
Investigators say the man was upset over state-mandated business closures and demanded money he claimed to have lost during the COVID shutdown.
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The investigation began around 1 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 24, when the Hubbard County Sheriff’s Office was contacted by a Minnesota State Patrol investigator assigned to the State Capitol in Saint Paul regarding a threatening social media post.
According to the sheriff’s office, a Facebook post tagging State Senator Glenn Gruenhagen had been made by a person identified as 58-year-old John David Tobias. Investigators say the message contained threats to kill the senator along with demands for repayment of money Tobias claimed he lost during pandemic-related shutdowns.
Authorities say a person identifying himself as Tobias also called the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office and spoke directly with a staff member, again complaining about financial losses tied to the COVID shutdown. During that call, investigators say he threatened to go to the Capitol and “execute everyone in the building” if he did not receive his money back.
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Investigators traced Tobias to a residence in Hubbard County located near Park Rapids. After obtaining a search warrant, Hubbard County deputies and the Lakes Area SWAT Team executed the warrant around 5:00 p.m. Tuesday.
Tobias was taken into custody without incident and transported to the Hubbard County Jail.
During a search of the property, authorities seized nine firearms and 40 boxes of ammunition. Investigators interviewed Tobias, who admitted to sending the threatening message and making the phone call, according to the sheriff’s office.
Tobias made his first court appearance Wednesday, Feb. 25, after being charged with two felony counts of making terroristic threats. A judge set bail at $300,000 without conditions or $150,000 with conditions.
Investigators say the man was upset over state-mandated business closures and demanded money he claimed to have lost during the COVID shutdown.