Police: West Union man threatened to blow up halfway house with chemical bomb

A northeast Iowa man is accused of threatening to build a chemical bomb to blow up a halfway house, authorities said.

Christopher A. Burke, 21, of West Union, has been charged with threats of terrorism and first-degree harassment in the case. Authorities said he spoke in great detail about plans to blow up the West Union Residential Facility.

Fayette County Sheriff Marty Fisher said the charge reflects the planning, and while the investigation is still continuing, he had no knowledge that Burke actually collected any ingredients to make a bomb.

Authorities said Burke spoke about his intent to kill or harm employees and inmates housed at the facility. Fisher said Burke also threatened to harm a staff member at the Fayette County Jail.

Information to support the charges came to light during the investigation of other inmates, Fisher said. He said Burke's specific motive was unknown.

“I can only assume that he's on the opposite side of he law, and he was upset with law enforcement,” Fisher said.

Mark Smith, residential manager at the West Union facility, said Burke had been ordered by a judge to spend up to a year at the 50-bed facility. Burke had been allowed to go to his job in the community on Oct. 4, but did not return for the evening.

Burke was booked back into the Fayette County Jail two days later for violating his probation. The new charges were filed late last week.

“I really have to praise my staff for being alert and discovering this,” Fisher said.

Burke's criminal past includes convictions for drug offenses, theft and trespassing. Earlier this year, he pleaded guilty to possessing magnesium sulfate, according to online court records.