Red flags raised weeks before teacher found with weapons on high school campus

ROYAL PALM BEACH, Fla. (WPEC) — Red flags were raised weeks before police in Florida arrested a high school teacher found at work with a gun and knife.

Royal Palm Beach High School math teacher Robert Krasnicki was arrested last Thursday, and police confiscated a loaded Palmetto Dagger 9mm firearm and a pocket knife with a three-and-a-half-inch blade.

But court records show allegations surfaced last November that Krasnicki, 42, was accused of sending threatening text messages to his ex-girlfriend and trading drugs with students.

According to a restraining order, Krasnicki sent photos of himself with guns, as well as alarming texts, to his ex-girlfriend.

On Nov. 6, 2022, West Palm Beach police responded to a call from the woman, regarding suspicious activity.

Police arrived and the woman told them she lived at the home with her ex-husband, with whom she has an 11-year-old son. The woman reportedly separated from her husband two years ago after 10 years of marriage.

Then she began seeing Krasnicki.

The ex-girlfriend told police she'd dated Krasnicki on and off for two years and during that time, he told her Jesus sent him to marry to her.

Then, a month ago, she told police she ended their relationship but decided to unblock him on Nov. 5, 2022 — the day before she called police — and they resumed chatting. The next day at noon, Krasnicki began sending the woman pictures of himself with firearms, including a rifle and a silver handgun.

Krasnicki also texted his ex-girlfriend, "All black today. Death of a lot of things for a Sunday. Goodbye Rob_7.0 and hello Rob_8.0! Today is the day the Lord has made rejoice and be glad in it! I love you and declare that you are healed, you are a child of God the most high god Jehova Jirah.

The ex-girlfriend said she called police because she was afraid Krasnicki would harm himself or others. She also told them Krasnicki was a teacher, he had a history with drugs, and that he traded drugs with students in exchange for 'A' grades.

According to court records, while investigators were with the woman, she got a delivery of flowers with a note from Krasnicki saying he loves and misses her.

And she told police Krasnicki hacked the school system to get her address, and change her son's grades to prevent him from being accepted into St. Ann Catholic School.

A request was made for a welfare check on Krasnicki, as well as a Baker Act assessment. Florida's Baker Act allows for involuntary detention for up to 72 hours for mental health.

Police in Riviera Beach, where Krasnicki lives, said they tried to make contact with him but were unsuccessful.

On Nov. 7, West Palm Beach police also performed a welfare check, with help from Riviera Beach police, but were unsuccessful. At that time, several neighbors told police they hadn't seen Krasnicki in a few days.

On Nov. 8, police made more attempts to contact Krasnicki but were again unsuccessful.

The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office said it learned Krasnicki had been placed on administrative leave by the school in November, with a return date of last Thursday, Jan. 19, 2023.

That morning, a school resource officer was alerted to a motorcycle blocking the school's north gate, according to the arrest report.

After checking the tags, the officer determined the vehicle belonged to Krasnicki. When he got to Krasnicki's classroom, Krasnicki claimed he had to take the motorcycle to work because his ex-girlfriend's ex-husband cut the brakes on his car and he had accidentally parked in front of the gate.

According to the report, Krasnicki then claimed he was being watched and listened to through his phone.

A meeting was held due to Krasnicki's paranoia and he volunteered for a mental health evaluation. That's what led to him being discovered with the gun and knife, leading to his arrest.

A detective from the school district police department said Krasnicki did not meet the requirements to be detained under the Baker Act last November.