Ely man charged with making terroristic threats against Obama, high school
Go Deeper.
Create an account or log in to save stories.
Like this?
Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.
A 23-year-old northern Minnesota man faces a felony charge for making threats against a local high school and President Barack Obama on Facebook.
Travis Mattila of Ely was arrested Tuesday and charged with felony terroristic threats. WDIO-TV reports the Ely Police Department began investigating last Thursday after receiving a complaint about posts Mattila made between Jan. 28 and March 25.
A court document says Mattila threatened to blow up Ely Memorial School and take children hostage to further the unrest in a Jan. 28 Facebook post. The document says Mattila later posted threats about raping 6- to 9-year-old girls and shooting Obama.
An email seeking comment was sent early Thursday to an attorney who represented Mattila in a separate case in 2009.
He's being held on $20,000 bail at the St. Louis County Jail.
Support Local News
When breaking news happens, MPR News provides the context you need. Help us meet the significant demands of these newsgathering efforts.