Truck aimed for Minneapolis FBI, hits doctor office

Article by: DAVID CHANEN , Star Tribune
Updated: November 20, 2009 - 10:41 PM

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A man with a shotgun by his side drove his pickup truck into a building he thought was the FBI headquarters in Minneapolis because he believed the agency had a computer device sending signals to his head and reading his thoughts.

In a criminal complaint filed Friday, James Kromer, 36, drove from Aitkin, Minn., and smashed his 1996 Dodge pickup truck into the three-story glass atrium of a building belonging to Physicians & Surgeons Capital Corp. at 1100 Washington Av. S. about 6 p.m. Thursday. Police said Kromer wanted to break the computers with his truck and then shoot the other computers he missed.

The crash caused approximately $20,000 in damages. Kromer was charged with felony first-degree damage to property. He will remain in jail until a court hearing Monday.

The FBI headquarters is at 111 Washington Av. S. The building Kromer crashed into is leased by the University of Minnesota, police said.

Kromer isn't considered a domestic terrorist, police said. He has a history of drug and drinking-related criminal offenses. His mental health is being evaluated. He was arrested shortly after the incident. He told police he drove his truck into the building and then backed it out, the court document said.

David Chanen • 612-673-4465