Hastings man charged with leaving homemade explosive near elementary school

A Hastings man is accused of leaving a homemade explosive device near an elementary school.

John Allan Lee, 57, was charged with one count of possessing an explosive device in Dakota County Court after a resident called police on Feb. 10, 2023, to report she had found what she believed to be a “cherry bomb” wrapped in a handkerchief.

The caller said she had found the explosive device by a telephone pole near to an elementary school in Hastings.

Upon inspection, officers determined the device was not a cherry bomb but called the St. Paul Bomb Squad to the scene. Because the device was found near a school, a bomb technician from the FBI was also called.

On Aug. 10, 2023, Hastings PD met with the FBI regarding the device. An investigation had concluded that the device was a functional improvised explosive device, or IED.

DNA belonging to Lee was also found on the inside and outside of the device.

Lee was detained during a search warrant on Sep. 12, 2023.

He eventually told officials that he probably had the device "at one time" when confronted with the DNA evidence but denied putting it by the school. He also admitted to frequenting the area where the device was found.