Post Falls bars man from offices

A Post Falls man has been barred indefinitely from city-owned buildings after he struck the city administrator in the stomach and brandished a large blade, saying “I could gut you with this,” according to police reports.

Laurence Nelson, who applied last year for a vacant City Council position, threatened Post Falls City Administrator Eric Keck during a Feb. 23 meeting about his water bill, police said.

Keck said Tuesday that he wasn’t hurt, and at the city’s request, police have not charged the 82-year-old Nelson with a crime.

“It was difficult for me to ascertain at the time whether he was serious or joking around,” Keck said Tuesday. “I like Mr. Nelson, but I’ve noticed a precipitous decline in what would be conduct that is acceptable in the public realm.”

But last week, the city of Post Falls sent Nelson a letter banning him from city office buildings. He cannot attend City Council meetings, where Nelson has been disruptive in the past, according to police reports.

“Basically, Mr. Nelson has been very boisterous for the past few months at council meetings, which has caused some concern,” Post Falls police Lt. Scot Haug said Tuesday. “We just needed to do something about it.”

If Nelson violates the order, he could be arrested for trespassing, a misdemeanor offense, Haug said.

Following the city’s wishes, police said they do not plan to press charges – which could have been misdemeanor battery and felony assault – for Nelson’s threat to the city administrator.

Nelson also has been prohibited from entering Ponderosa Elementary School in Post Falls because of disruptive behavior, police said.

Nelson was taken into protective custody Thursday for evaluation and medical treatment at Kootenai Medical Center, according to police reports.

A message left Tuesday at his home was not returned.

When Nelson met Feb. 23 with Keck, he back-handed Keck in the stomach, saying “when I was in the military, we used to do that to make sure the person was standing straight,” according to police reports.

Later in the meeting, Keck moved to his desk to retrieve paperwork, and Nelson pulled out a 12-inch sharp object that was a knife or letter-opener, Keck told police. Nelson moved the object up and down in a “plunging” motion and threatened Keck, according to police reports.

Keck took the knife from him and finished the meeting, he told police.

Haug said in the 20-plus years he’s been with the Police Department, roughly three residents have been banned from city property.