Threats from man calling himself a ‘grizzly bear’ terrify judge, MN cops say

A man involved in years-long divorce court proceedings threatened to kill his attorney and lobbed additional threats toward his judge, who feared for her life, Minnesota authorities say.

Ryan Paul Maurer, who referred to himself as a “grizzly bear” in one of his threatening emails, is now charged with aggravated harassment of a judicial officer, according to court records filed in Hennepin County.

Maurer, 48, and his wife filed for divorce in June 2022, but his first attorney withdrew from representation just months later, according to a statement of probable cause. With Maurer’s new attorney, the case went to trial in May 2024 and again the following February.

On June 12, days before the court was expected to make a decision in the case, Maurer is accused of sending a threatening email to his attorney about his judge.

“I’m (expletive) mad really mad my son was taken away from me and who knows what this liberal (expletive) shorthaired crew cut little (expletive) judge is gonna rule against me. I’m gonna go ballistic,” he told his attorney in a 3:28 a.m. email, according to the court records.

Two minutes later, Maurer sent a second email, indicating that if he were to kill his former attorney, “everyone (expletive) knows why,” authorities said.

“I’m a (expletive) grizzly bear and I’ve been poked poked poked poked and poked,” he wrote at 3:32 a.m., according to the court records. “It’s human nature. I’m gonna (expletive) swing back.”

Throughout the early-morning hours, Maurer also sent seven emails to the judge’s chambers, authorities said.

He then sent several blank emails to the judge with the subject line, “I’ll never let this go and I have little faith in the system. That’s why I’m mentally broken down. I want these (expletives).”

Maurer was ordered at 10:21 a.m. to stop sending emails to the judge, but investigators said he sent 17 more.

Authorities said the judge was “terrified” and feared for her safety, believing it to be in danger.

“(The judge) knew Maurer owned multiple firearms, so she took his statements seriously given his concerning mental state and the nature of his threats,” investigators said.

Hennepin County jail records show Maurer was jailed June 23 before being released two days later on $100,000 bail.

Hennepin County is Minnesota’s most populous county and home to Minneapolis.