Elliot Hughes

Star Tribune

(TNS)

The Maple Grove fire chief has been placed on administrative leave after being accused of sexually assaulting a teenage fire cadet at another fire department nine years ago.

Maddison M. Zikmund, 36, of Blaine was charged Friday with third-degree criminal sexual conduct, a felony. The Star Tribune was unable to reach him for comment.

Zikmund has led the Maple Grove fire and emergency management departments since April 2025, according to his LinkedIn page.

“The allegations are serious and deeply concerning,” the city of Maple Grove said in a statement. “When the city became aware of the criminal investigation on July 1, the Fire Chief was immediately placed on administrative leave.”

The criminal complaint filed Friday alleges that in 2017, when Zikmund worked as a firefighter with the Spring Lake Park-Blaine-Mounds View Fire Department and as a supervisor for its youth cadet program, he groomed and assaulted one of its members.

According to the complaint:

In late June, the Blaine Police Department fielded a delayed report of a sexual assault from the victim.

The victim told police she enrolled in the fire cadet program at age 16 in summer 2016. Over time, the victim said, she communicated with Zikmund over text message and social media apps, and they eventually turned sexually explicit.

In spring 2017, after the victim turned 17, she said Zikmund invited her over to his home, where he sexually assaulted her.

In a July 1 interview with police, Zikmund admitted to exchanging explicit photographs with the victim. He also admitted the victim visited his home and that he touched the victim in a private area, but denied having sex with her.

Zikmund told police, “Again, I know this was wrong.”

©2026 The Minnesota Star Tribune. Visit startribune.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC