Eagan Man Arrested After Alleged Threats and Racial Slurs Against Neighbor
Published: August 30th, 2026.
INVER GROVE HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA: An Eagan man was taken into custody Saturday morning, nearly two weeks after prosecutors charged him with multiple harassment offenses stemming from allegations that he threatened a neighbor and repeatedly directed racial and anti-immigrant remarks toward him.
Keith Victor Harklerode, 64, of Eagan, is charged in Dakota County District Court with two counts of felony harassment and two counts of gross misdemeanor harassment. The two felony counts allege the harassment was motivated by bias. A warrant complaint was filed against Harklerode on Monday, August 17, 2026, in connection with an August 8th incident in Eagan. The court ordered that Harklerode be apprehended and arrested, with the warrant authorized for nationwide execution.
Harklerode was taken into custody Saturday morning, August 29th.
Police Called After Reports of Man Screaming Outside
According to the criminal complaint, Eagan Police officers were dispatched at approximately 8:35 a.m. on August 8, 2026, to a residence on Blackhawk Lake Curve after receiving a report of an intoxicated man outside screaming.
Police spoke with the alleged victim, identified in the complaint as a Black man who lives near Harklerode. The man reportedly told officers he had experienced ongoing problems with Harklerode for several years and was concerned Harklerode might have a gun. The complaint states the alleged victim also told police his children had become afraid to play outside because of Harklerode's behavior.
According to prosecutors, the alleged victim and another neighbor were standing outside that morning when Harklerode came out of his home and stood in his yard. The complaint alleges Harklerode then said, “I’m gonna blow your head off.” The alleged victim told investigators he believed the threat was directed toward both him and the other neighbor. Prosecutors allege Harklerode then began yelling at the man and used a vulgar racial slur while also referring to him as an immigrant.
Neighbor Reportedly Heard Threats and Racial Slurs
Police also interviewed the neighbor who had been standing with the alleged victim. According to the complaint, that witness told officers Harklerode had allegedly been intoxicated and screaming outside his home since approximately 3 a.m. The witness reportedly told investigators he called police after Harklerode began yelling at the alleged victim, including making comments about him being an immigrant and going to prison.
Court documents state the witness corroborated the alleged victim's account that Harklerode used racial slurs. The witness also reportedly heard Harklerode say something that sounded like “blow your head off,” although he could not recall the exact wording. Officers subsequently interviewed several other neighbors.
According to the complaint, multiple neighbors confirmed Harklerode had allegedly been screaming since approximately 3 a.m. and generally corroborated the accounts provided by the alleged victim and the other witness. One neighbor specifically reported hearing Harklerode yelling racial slurs and making threats throughout the night and early morning hours. The complaint further states neighbors told police that Harklerode frequently engages in similar behavior.
Prosecutors Cite Three Previous Incidents in 2026
The August incident was not the first time Harklerode had been accused of similar conduct involving the same alleged victim, according to court documents. The criminal complaint states Harklerode had previously been cited three times during 2026 for similar alleged conduct involving the man, with incidents occurring January 13th, January 19th, and May 10th. Those previous cases were also cited by the Dakota County Attorney's Office in its bail request.
Prosecutors described the August case as the fourth time during 2026 that Harklerode had been cited or charged in connection with incidents involving the alleged victim.
“The State believes that a significant amount of conditional bail is appropriate” because of what prosecutors characterized as Harklerode's “ongoing, escalating behavior” toward the alleged victim, according to the bail filing.
Prosecutors specifically pointed to the alleged threat against the man's life as well as witness accounts concerning racial and anti-immigrant remarks. The Dakota County Attorney's Office said the alleged conduct raised concerns about the safety of the alleged victim and his family, as well as public safety more broadly.
Four Harassment Charges Filed
Harklerode faces four criminal counts stemming from the August 8th incident.
Count one charges him with felony harassment involving intent to injure and placing another person in reasonable fear of substantial bodily harm, with prosecutors alleging the offense was motivated by bias.
Count two is another felony harassment charge, alleging conduct intended to injure that caused or would reasonably be expected to cause substantial emotional distress and was motivated by bias.
Each felony charge carries a maximum possible sentence of five years in prison and/or a fine of up to $10,000.
Harklerode is additionally charged with gross misdemeanor harassment for allegedly placing another person in reasonable fear of substantial bodily harm and gross misdemeanor harassment for conduct allegedly causing or reasonably expected to cause substantial emotional distress. Each gross misdemeanor charge carries a maximum possible sentence of one year in jail and/or a $3,000 fine.
Prosecutors Request Up to $50,000 Bail
The Dakota County Attorney's Office requested bail be set at $50,000 without conditions or $40,000 with conditions. If released on conditional bail, prosecutors requested that Harklerode be prohibited from contacting the alleged victim or anyone in his household and be excluded from the alleged victim's residence on Blackhawk Lake Curve. Prosecutors also requested that Harklerode be prohibited from using or possessing firearms, ammunition, explosives or dangerous weapons and be required to surrender any firearms or weapons. The requested conditions also include the suspension of his gun permit or any gun permit application.
The criminal complaint was approved and filed August 17, 2026. A Dakota County judicial officer determined probable cause existed to support the charges and issued the arrest warrant that same day. Harklerode was subsequently taken into custody on Saturday, August 29, 2026.
The charges contained in a criminal complaint are allegations. Harklerode is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
Pictured: Keith Victor Harklerode. Provided by the Dakota County Jail.
