MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – A 23-year-old Coon Rapids man is accused of leaving a Molotov cocktail on a woman’s couch, then referencing the Boston Marathon bombings when questioned by police about it, according to charges filed Friday in Anoka County Court.
John Michael Udell was charged with one count of possessing an explosive/incendiary device and two counts of terroristic threats in connection with the incident, which happened Tuesday.
According to the charges, Coon Rapids Police were called to a residence on the 500 block of 112th Lane NW on a report of an explosive device inside a residence. When authorities arrived, a woman at the residence told police she woke up that day and found a Molotov cocktail on her couch. It was a 40-ounce bottled beer glass which contained amber liquid at the bottom, shotgun shells, fireworks, nails and wadding material.
The bottle also contained a rag inside that came out of the bottle as a type of wick. Next to the bottle was a plastic bottle full of charcoal lighter fluid. The woman said she was letting Udell stay at her residence, and the device was his, according to the complaint.
Udell had been hospitalized on an unrelated medical condition earlier that day. When officers arrived to speak with him about the device, unprovoked he said, “Wow, you’d think it was the Boston bombing or something.” He was referencing the Boston Marathon bombings, where three people were killed on April 15.
The complaint states Udell told police he admitted to making the device but denied any plans to use it or harm anyone. If convicted on all charges, he faces up to 18 years in prison and a $33,000 fine.
