A Targeted Act of Arson Outside My Home
This Is What Happened. This Is What I Know.
I was very excited to launch my Substack last week. I had been planning the launch for a few weeks. I published three posts and had a series of additional posts and content in the queue to fully utilize all the fantastic features that Substack has to offer.
But less than 72 hours after I launched my Substack newsletter, a masked individual set off an explosive—possibly a large firework or incendiary device—inside my trash can outside our home at 12:49 AM on Friday, July 18. The explosion and ensuing fire destroyed the can, damaged our driveway, and burned my lawn.
My family is safe, but shaken.
I’m declining at this time to speculate on a possible motive publicly, but let me be very clear: this was a targeted explosion and fire at my home.
I am furious, and I’m only getting angrier. Since the explosion and fire, I’ve barely slept. I’m punchy, frustrated, exhausted, and again, angry.
I’ve been focused on ensuring my family’s safety and gathering video and audio footage of the incident to share with law enforcement and the media, much of which I have shared on social media.
The Eagan Police Department and Eagan Fire Department are investigating this as a case of arson. I have also spoken with federal law enforcement.
Timeline of Events
Here’s what I know:
At 12:45:46 AM, an individual on a bike is seen on my home security camera and parks outside across the street from my house.
For the next few minutes, the suspect appears to be looking at his phone and then looking at my house. It would seem that they are confirming they are in the correct location.
At approximately 12:47 AM, the suspect calls someone on the phone, as you can later hear the suspect talking to someone on the phone.
From the audio, it sounds like the suspect is confirming the location with someone on the phone.
At 12:49:10, the suspect is seen on video flicking off the camera, and they proceed to light what has been described to me as a large firework or incendiary device.
Seconds later, the suspect lights the device, there is a loud explosion, and then the fire starts.
The video shows the suspect recording the explosion and the initial stages of the fire.
At 12:49:47 AM, the suspect was last seen by my security camera as they rode away on their bicycle.
Based on the timestamps on my security cameras, the suspect was outside my house for 4 minutes.
One Minute of Footage That Shows Why I Haven’t Slept
I’ve shared a lot of video and audio of the targeted explosion outside my home, because I want to ensure the person (s) who are responsible for this criminal act are caught and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
However, one of my friends suggested that I share a video of what my family saw outside our home after the suspect left. Below is one minute of raw video of the fire outside our house.
This is why I haven’t slept. This is why I am furious.
Suspect Description
The suspect was wearing a partial mask, along with a grey hooded sweatshirt, black athletic-style pants, and white tennis shoes.
From the video and audio, I physically describe the suspect as:
A white male, just over 6 feet tall, with a slender build. The estimated weight would be 140 to 185 pounds.
I would estimate the suspect's age to be between 15 and early 20s.
These are my descriptions, based on my review of the video and audio.
Media Coverage
After the police and fire department left, I shared video and audio of the targeted explosion and fire at my home on social media. This led to numerous media outlets reporting on the incident.
Below is a partial list.
Star Tribune: ‘Watch: Suspect blows up trash can at Twin Cities home of ex-state GOP deputy chair Michael Brodkorb’
AM950: Interview with Matt McNeil
Newsweek: ‘Watch: Ex-Minnesota Republican Leader's Trash Can Blown Up Outside Home’
Bring Me The News: ‘Former GOP leader shares video of suspect blowing up trash can outside his Eagan home’
Yahoo: ‘Former GOP leader shares video of suspect blowing up trash can outside his Eagan home’
Limitless Media: ‘Eagan Police Investigating Late-Night Arson After Firework Explosion Destroys Trash Can’
Next steps
It’s now been five days since the targeted explosion and fire at my home. The investigation has begun, and while I remain on edge, this Substack post marks my first attempt to focus on anything other than my family and providing as much information as possible to law enforcement.
This wasn’t what I expected to be writing about for my new Substack newsletter. At the same time, I do plan to post about the targeted explosion and fire at my home, while also ensuring that I publish the content I advertised would be the focus of On the Record with Michael Brodkorb.
I appreciate all the support that my family and I have received since an explosion and fire outside our home awoke us while we slept.
If you have any information about the targeted explosion and fire outside my home, please get in touch with the Eagan Police Department at (651) 675-5700.
How terrifying for you and your family. I hope the perp has been caught and charged.