Individual banned from Grand Marais Library following video threat to librarian
A Cook County resident has been banned from the Grand Marais Library premises after threatening a librarian online in a Facebook video.
On May 23, the Cook County Sheriff’s Office received a call from a concerned resident about a Facebook video posted on May 22 to the personal page of Frank Poe, legally known as Christopher Frank.
According to the police report, the approximately 12-minute video filmed outside on a bike path included two incidents where Frank threatened to kill one of the employed librarians.
After being notified of the potential threat to one of the employees, the Director of the Grand Marais Library, Amanda St. John, contacted the Sheriff’s Office to file a police report and trespass order. St. John then contacted city officials, trustees, and the Violence Prevention Center.
“The individual is someone that we are familiar with and has a mental health condition that we have been paying attention to,” St. John said in the May 23 Grand Marais Library Board meeting. “This patron will be banned from use of the library.”
Prior to the incident, St. John said she initiated preemptive conversations related to safety and how to respond should an incident with Frank arise. The Violence Prevention Center is working with St. John and the library staff to develop a safety plan moving forward.
During the May 23 meeting, St. John said that while Frank’s Facebook video did not reference the librarian’s name, she was concerned about a particular employee. “We were not the only people to make a complaint about this particular video.” The video has since been removed from Facebook.
Cook County Sheriff Pat Eliasen told WTIP that the Cook County Attorney’s Office is reviewing the case and deputies will “respond appropriately if the person attempts to enter the building.”
The investigation remains active, and no charges have been filed at this time.
Kalli Hawkins June 4, 2024
