Jim Gradishar dead at the age of 47.

A man who was surrounded by controversy over the last few years took his own life on Wednesday. Jim Gradishar owned the NorShor Experience, a strip club here in Duluth. He had trouble with citizens and police since the strip club opened.

The owner of the NorShore building, Eric Ringsred, blamed Gradishar's suicide on the media and the police. Saying they had a witch-hunt out on Gradishar, Ringsred went as far as to use the word murder instead of suicide, saying the newspaper, city officials and the police all have blood on their hands.

Gradishar had trouble with the law here in Duluth and elsewhere. Here, in Duluth, he brought a gun to a public place while under the influence. His business, the NorShor Experience, has also had its run ins with the police and the city. They have been the subject of numerous police calls. The business also had its liquor license pulled by the city until a judge overruled the city and restored the license.

I did not know Gradishar at all. I do think the media seemed to focus on him because of the type of business he ran. I think if this would have been someone who ran a high tech industry, you would have heard little about it.