Cedar Rapids Man Arrested for Threatening to Blow up Courthouse

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By Aaron Hepker

Story Created: Dec 5, 2009 at 9:59 AM CST

Story Updated: Dec 5, 2009 at 3:12 PM CST

CEDAR RAPIDS — Two-time city council candidate and carnival business owner Robert Bates faces charges for first-degree harassment and making threats with an explosive device after police officers arrested Bates at his home Thursday night.

Cedar Rapids police spokesperson Sgt. Cristy Hamblin said that officers had obtained a warrant after Bates made several threats over the phone to a St. Luke’s mental health worker Wednesday night.

“He told them that he was going to go to Missouri to get explosives and come back and blow up the courthouse, and kill hundreds of people,” Hamblin said. “He said he’d make it a national incident.”

When police arrested Bates, 43, at his home at 419 Seventh Ave. SW, he threatened to kill the officers, and said it would be like the shooting in Washington state that claimed the lives of four off duty police officers.

“We take all threats seriously,” Hamblin said. “But we’ve had dealings with Mr. Bates before, and when it comes to what happened in Washington, we take that very seriously.”

Police arrested Bates back in September of 2008 for disorderly conduct at a public meeting, after he cursed and yelled at a city council meeting.

Bates ran for city council in 2005 and again in 2009, getting 2312 votes for an at-large council position.

Hamblin said that Bates’ harassment and threats charges are all aggravated misdemeanors. Bates is still in Linn County Jail, and his bail has been set at $26,500cash bond only.

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