Teacher who brought gun, knife to school said he was ‘being watched’ through phone

ROYAL PALM BEACH, Fla. — A Florida high school teacher was arrested Thursday after he brought a loaded gun and a knife onto campus claiming that he was being watched and listened to through his cellphone.

Robert Thomas Krasnicki, 42, was taken into custody at Royal Palm Beach Community High School, where he worked. He is charged with two counts of possession of a weapon on school property.

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A judge on Friday ordered that Krasnicki undergo a mental health evaluation. He is being held in the Palm Beach County Jail on $20,000 bail.

The judge also granted the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office a temporary risk protection order against Krasnicki that requires him to surrender all firearms and ammunition in his possession.

According to a probable cause affidavit, the high school’s assistant principal notified a school resource officer Thursday morning that there was a motorcycle blocking the northern gate to the campus. A license plate search indicated the cycle belonged to Krasnicki.

The officer went to Krasnicki’s classroom, at which point the teacher said he’d accidentally blocked the gate and would move the bike.

Then the conversation appeared to turn.

“(Krasnicki) further stated that the reason he rode it here is because his ex-girlfriend’s ex-husband had cut his brakes on his car,” the officer wrote in the affidavit. “He further stated that he was being watched through his phone and was being listened to.”

The SRO had the assistant principal escort Krasnicki to the school’s police office, where the officer subsequently interviewed Krasnicki further. During the interview, Krasnicki agreed to be taken to JFK North Hospital in West Palm Beach for a mental health evaluation.

Prior to his transport there, the officer asked if Krasnicki was carrying any weapons. The teacher admitted he had a concealed handgun in the waistband of his pants.

“Krasnicki was searched by myself and my partner … which produced said firearm,” the affidavit states. “The weapon is a loaded Palmetto Dagger 9mm full-size firearm.

“The search also produced a pocketknife with a metal hilt and a 3 1/2- inch blade.”

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WPTV in West Palm Beach reported that Krasnicki never threatened any staff or students with the weapons. Royal Palm Beach Community High School principal Michelle Fleming sent an automated callout to parents informing them of the incident.

Possession of a weapon on school property is a felony, as well as a violation of the school district’s zero tolerance policy, the principal said in the call.

“Mr. Krasnicki was transported by police from our campus to jail,” Fleming said. “He will not be returning to Royal Palm Beach Community High School.”

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