Hastings Man Left Homemade Bomb Near Elementary School: Police

HASTINGS, MN — A 57-year-old Hastings man is accused of leaving a homemade bomb near an elementary school.

John A. Lee was charged last week in Dakota County with one count of possessing or making an explosive incendiary device. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in prison and a $20,000 fine.

On Feb. 10, 2023, a Hastings police officer responded to a report of suspicious activity. A woman said she found a small "cherry bomb" with a fuse near a telephone pole by an elementary school.

The woman wrapped it in a handkerchief, took it home, and put it in her garage because she thought it was trash. When she realized it was an explosive, she returned it, according to police.

"However, she felt wrong about leaving it there so she brought it home to ask her husband about it," the criminal complaint states. "She spoke with her husband the next day and he told her to call the police."

Police located the item and it did not appear to be a "cherry bomb." The device was collected by the FBI and sent to the FBI's forensic lab in Quantico, Virginia.

The investigation concluded that the device was a functional, certified improvised explosive device (IED).

The FBI lab report identified the IED as a cardboard tube containing powder, plastic pieces, a fuse, and a fuse. DNA found on the device was linked to Lee, according to the criminal complaint.

Police arrested Lee at a liquor store on Sept. 12.

In an interview with agents, Lee initially denied building any bombs or explosives and said he wouldn't put them near a school, according to the criminal complaint.

When asked about the presence of his DNA, Lee said: "I probably had it at one time," admitting that he had something, "like a M80," according to prosecutors. Lee again said he didn’t know anything about a homemade device, the criminal complaint states.

Lee said he tossed something "like a M80" around his birthday, Feb. 9, authorities said.