Blackduck Man Charged After School Lot Threats
Blackduck (trfnews.i234.me) — A Blackduck man faces felony charges after an alleged confrontation outside Blackduck High School.
Eric Gourley, 58, is charged in Beltrami County District Court.
The charges include terroristic threats and fifth-degree drug possession.
He also faces a misdemeanor domestic assault charge.
The case stems from an incident reported September 23 in the school parking lot.
School Staff Report Confrontation
According to the criminal complaint, the school principal witnessed Gourley confronting a woman outside the school.
The principal reported seeing Gourley follow the woman toward her vehicle.
Investigators later reviewed surveillance video from the school.
The video allegedly showed Gourley blocking the driver’s door as the woman tried to enter.
The woman forced the door open, according to the complaint.
Gourley then allegedly pushed the door into her.
The complaint says she became pinned between the door and vehicle frame.
Another school employee also witnessed the incident.
That employee gave investigators an account similar to the principal’s statement.
School staff also reported hearing Gourley threaten to kill the woman.
The principal ordered Gourley to leave school property.
He complied and left the area.
Woman Says She Feared for Her Safety
The woman later spoke with investigators about the confrontation.
She said Gourley accused her of keeping his children from him.
She also said he blamed her for ruining his life.
The woman told investigators she feared for her safety.
She said she understood Gourley’s statements as threats against her life.
Drug Charge Filed After Arrest
Deputies located Gourley later that day at a Blackduck business.
He was arrested on the domestic assault allegation.
According to the complaint, Gourley denied touching the woman.
Authorities reported seeing him drop a small plastic bag while leaving the store.
The bag contained a crystalline substance, according to investigators.
A field test indicated the substance was methamphetamine.
Gourley denied knowing about the substance.
He also denied using methamphetamine in recent years.
Gourley claimed the woman struck him with the vehicle door.
He denied assaulting her.
Gourley remains in custody while the case moves through court.
More information about Minnesota court cases is available through the Minnesota Judicial Branch.
Defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
I’m Adrian Cole reporting for TRF News.
Copyright 2026 TRF News. All rights reserved.
