Former Erie schools superintendent Dr. James Barker faces charges in Florida stemming from a relationship with an employee at a yacht and country club in Fort Myers, according to court records.

Barker was arrested Jan. 20 in Lee County on counts of cyberstalking and damaging property.

The investigation started when Sheriff's Office was called to Gulf Harbour Yacht and Country Club for a report of vandalism in the parking lot around 8:50 p.m. Jan. 19, according to the probable cause statement.

An employee told deputies she was having an issue with a patron she identified as Barker. She said Barker was harassing her inside the club and was following her around. Investigators said management stepped in and had Barker leave the club. On his way out, Barker shouted the employee was a horrible person and gave her and the other employees the middle finger, according to the arrest report.

The woman received a call shortly afterwards from another employee who said Barker was near her vehicle in the parking lot. She and other employees went to her vehicle and did not see Barker, but she found a birthday card on her windshield and numerous key gouges in long lines all over her Mercedes car, the probable cause statement said. A deputy also found suspected blood smears on the vehicle.

Witnesses told deputies Barker was still in the parking lot. The deputy investigating the incident talked to Barker who said he was there to put something on a friend's boat and talk to the employee, according to the probable cause statement. The deputy wrote he saw a fresh cut on one of Barker's fingers and asked if Barker had his keys. Barker took out his keys, and the deputy said one key appeared to have an apparent blood stain on it. Barker did not give the deputy for a reason for the injury, and he was taken into custody as deputies continued their investigation, the arrest report said.

During an interview with deputies, the employee said she was in an intimate relationship with Barker from Aug. 2020 until she ended the relationship in the middle of Dec. 2020 because he was "emotionally abusive to her." Barker has been calling, texting and emailing her daily since the relationship ended. Some messages "were of a loving nature and others were of hatred for her and how she destroyed his life," the probable cause statement said. The woman told him to stop, but the messages continued.

A detective reviewed the case, finding the damage to the vehicle and the texts and emails enough to warrant charges.

Barker was released after posting $15,000 bond the next day.

He has hired a private attorney and pleaded not guilty and waived his arraignment Jan. 25, court records show.

Barker has resigned from his position on the State Board of Education. In a statement sent to Erie News Now, the Pennsylvania Department of Education said it is "aware of the incident involving Dr. James Barker and received notice of his immediate resignation from the State Board of Education."

He was re-appointed to serve on the Board in 2014 and has been a member of the Board since 1999.