Updated: 11/20/2009 5:09 PM KSTP.com | Print |  Email
By: Becky Nahm & Susanna Song

MPD: Man Who Drove into "U" Building Was Targeting FBI

A man who crashed his truck into a downtown Minneapolis building thought he was driving into the offices of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, according to police.

James Kromer, 36, of Aitkin, was charged with felony damage to property.

Police said Kromer purposefully drove into the University of Minnesota Public Health building around 6 p.m. Thursday.

The crash shattered glass and caused more than $20,000 damage.

Police said he told investigators he was targeting the FBI.

Sgt. Jesse Garcia said, "I think there might be some other mental health issues that come into play, but apparently he thought some computers were affecting his mind and was going to drive his truck into the building to destroy them."

The university building is located at 1110 Washington Ave. S. The address of Minneapolis offices of the FBI is 111 Washington Ave. S.

During their investigation police found a shotgun in Kromer's truck.

Garcia said, "I don't know if it was loaded but it never came to play in this particular incident."

Kromer is being held at the Hennepin County Jail.