Fergus Falls Man Charged in $542 Vehicle Theft

Fergus Falls (trfnews.i234.me) — Eric Clayton Nord faces theft and vehicle-tampering charges in Otter Tail County District Court.

Prosecutors allege Nord entered a vehicle without permission and took cash and property on August 24, 2026.

The complaint places the final value of the missing items at $542.

Nord faces a gross misdemeanor theft charge and a misdemeanor vehicle-tampering charge.

Police Called to Circle K Area

Fergus Falls police were dispatched around 10 p.m. near Circle K and Spies Park.

A man identified as C.L.F. reported finding another man inside his vehicle.

C.L.F. said the man left the vehicle and walked north on Union Avenue.

Police soon spotted a man matching the description near the Chamber of Commerce.

Authorities identified that man as Eric Clayton Nord, according to the complaint.

Police initially lost sight of Nord near the riverwalk.

Owner Reports Several Items Missing

C.L.F. told investigators he had briefly entered the Circle K while others remained near his vehicle.

When he returned, he allegedly saw Nord rummaging through the vehicle.

C.L.F. first believed about $200 in cash was missing.

He then noticed several other items were also gone.

Those items included a tablet valued at $200 and a cellphone valued around $160.

Eric Clayton Nord mugshot — Eric Clayton Nord

Two boxes of cigarettes were also reported missing.

Two women told police they had not taken the items.

One woman reported seeing Nord inside the front seat of the vehicle.

She also provided cellphone video allegedly showing Nord inside the vehicle.

Property Allegedly Recovered

Police later located Nord near Vine Street and Spruce Street.

Nord was arrested in connection with the theft investigation.

The complaint says Nord told police the missing tablet was inside his backpack.

He claimed he took the tablet because he wanted to give it to police.

Investigators reported finding $167 in cash in Nord’s pocket.

Two cellphones were also found, according to the complaint.

Nord identified the phone with a broken screen as his own.

Police then searched the backpack and reported finding the tablet.

They also found the two missing cigarette packages.

The complaint lists the recovered and missing property at a total value of $542.

Two Charges Filed

The theft charge is filed under Minnesota Statute 609.52.

The charge carries up to 364 days in jail and a $3,000 fine.

The second charge cites Minnesota Statute 609.546.

That statute covers entering or tampering with another person’s vehicle without permission.

The complaint lists a maximum of 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine.

The court file number is 56-CR-26-2104.

Public case information is available through Minnesota Court Records Online.

The criminal complaint contains allegations and does not establish Nord’s guilt.

Nord is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

I’m Adrian Cole reporting for TRF News.