ND AG agents covering up crimes for police – questions created about Andrew Sadek investigation
by Timothy Charles Holmseth on January 15, 2017, 10:45 A.M. CST
From unexplained police shootings to unexplained deaths to the senseless death of a young college student named Andrew Sadek – the State of North Dakota is drowning in questions.
Was a former North Dakota Sheriff secretly involved in a slow speed pursuit of an unarmed motorist that was ultimately shot by police?
Records that show former Walsh County Sheriff Lauren Wild was involved in the pursuit of David James Elliott were obtained by Write Into Action from the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI); obtained only after a very long game of hide n’ go seek by the BCI, Grand Forks Police Department, and Grand Forks County PSAP.
The North Dakota Attorney General’s Office, which oversees the BCI, attempted to hide the existence of 911 and police cam evidence in the case by not recording the collection of the evidence into inventory.
Write Into Action obtained the 911 recording and police videos from the BCI after using recorded statements from BCI agents during post-shooting interviews wherein they referred to the evidence – which proved the agency possessed the data.
There now exists a Tsunami of evidence that shows law enforcement in North Dakota is conspiring within to protect itself from lawsuits and federal prosecution.
Write Into Action’s continuing investigation shows the cover-up is connected to former Walsh County Sheriff Lauren Wild.
And…
It appears Wild’s involvement is being covered up by law enforcement officials including the present Sheriff of Walsh County, North Dakota.
Let’s get to it.
Evidence shows the Walsh County Sheriff’s Department was involved in the pursuit of David James Elliott on February 27-28, 2015. The Elliott pursuit spanned multiple counties and ended in the parking lot of a Grand Forks hospital where he was shot by a University of North Dakota police officer.
However…
Walsh County Sheriff Ron Jurgens told Write Into Action, “Walsh County had no involvement with the chase or anything involving that case.”
But…that’s simply not true.
Public records clearly show Walsh County was involved.
During a 911 call made by David James Elliott on February 27-28, 2015, Elliott, who was refusing to pull over for police on Interstate 29, north of Grand Forks, said former Walsh County Sheriff Lauren Wild was following him.
The biggest, amongst the many problems with Wild’s alleged involvement in the pursuit was that he was/is no longer the Sheriff. Wild exited office for retirement after being named a defendant in a federal lawsuit filed by Walsh County Deputy Ron Nord.
The Walsh County Press reported on Lauren Wild’s retirement party in their January 14, 2015 edition.
Walsh was no longer a member of law enforcement and should not have been involved in pursuing vehicles.
So…
Is there any reason why a controversial career sheriff might be interjecting himself into a midnight pursuit instead of being at home in bed sleeping?
Well…
Actually…
Perhaps…
Yes.
Elliott had in his possession “thousands of pills” according to the BCI.
While talking to Grand Forks Police Officer Matthew Bullinger over 911 while he was being followed by police, Elliott reacted when he saw a vehicle pass him. “Oh, now he’s stopping. Now he’s turning around. Walsh County Sheriff’s Department -Lauren,” Elliott said.
BCI records appear to show that there was in fact a Walsh County Sheriff’s Office vehicle involved in the pursuit. “Grand Forks Police Department Officer Matt Bullinger stated that DAVID ELLIOTT mentioned the Walsh County Sheriff’s deputy’s name and that he did not like him,” BCI agent Michael Ness reported.
Agent Ness’ assertion that David Elliott did not like the “Walsh County Sheriff’s deputy” makes no sense because Elliott was afraid of “Lauren Wild” – and Wild was/is not a deputy – he was a former sheriff.
Ness omitted Wild’s name and title.
This is bad, folks.
Walsh County Sheriff Ron Jurgens said the sheriff’s office had no involvement whatsoever.
Jurgens’ statement appears to be false on its face.
The BCI interviewed North Dakota State Trooper Matthew Peschong regarding his involvement in the pursuit of David Elliott. “Trooper Peschong received a call from Walsh County, North Dakota. Dispatch advised him that the vehicle involved in the earlier pursuit was parked at the Oslo exit on Interstate 29 (I-29),” the BCI report said.
That statement directly contradicts Jurgens’ claim that Walsh County had no involvement.
And…
New information obtained by Write Into Action reveals another police officer, Sgt, Mark Ellingson, Grand Forks Police, also said the Walsh County Sheriff’s Office was involved.
“We had called Grafton PD. We told Grafton and I think they contacted Walsh County, NDHP, and then of course GFSO already knew,” Ellingson told BCI agents.
Write Into Action contacted Sheriff Jurgens for a comment regarding emerging information that shows Walsh County was involved but Jurgens did not respond.
Evidence shows Wild was involved in the Elliott case at some level.
During an interview with the BCI, David Elliott’s wife, Jennifer Elliott, along with her mother Margaret Dolan, said Wild was talking about the shooting. The two ladies said Wild knew UND police officer Jerad Braaten – the police officer that shot David Elliott.
Jennifer Elliott and Dolan claimed Braaten had once worked for the Grafton Police Department.
BCI AGENT SCOTT KRAFT: Can I ask where you got that information?”
JENNIFER ELLIOT: Lauren Wild.
MARGARET DOLAN: Lauren Wild.
“[Jerad Braaten] worked at Grafton – that’s what Lauren Wild was saying – that he was asked to leave. That’s what we were hearing from Lauren Wild that he worked for the Grafton police – he was let go – he was asked to leave,” Jennifer Elliott said.
Write Into Action contacted Grafton Police Chief Anthony Dumas and inquired about Wild’s claims. “Jerad Braaten has never had any affiliation with the Grafton Police Department. He was never employed here, therefore, couldn’t have been asked to resign. Retired Sheriff Lauren Wild was mistaken when he commented on this,” Chief Dumas said.
Jennifer Elliott said Wild was a friend of their family.
“We’re from Grafton. Grafton’s my home town. So, Lauren Wild would be a good friend to my mom’s brothers. Yeah, so we know him very well,” Jennifer Elliott said.
During the pursuit, David Elliott was experiencing extreme anxiety over Wild.
“I’ve dealt with a lot police in my time. I’ve never met such a prick in my life. That guy is corrupt! I mean I’m not even kidding you – he is. He’s a corrupt cop. That’s for somebody else to judge and find out. But he’s got away with it for years. I hate him so much I feel like putting it to the floor and seeing what that son-of-a-bitch really has,” Elliott said.
Elliott appeared to suggest that he knew Wild was dangerous and violent.
“My whole life I’ve been beat to shit out of by cops. And Lauren has the traits and aspects and everything of the same shit,” David Elliott said.
Elliott repeatedly explained to GFDP Bullinger over the PSAP (911) line that he was not stopping his vehicle because he was afraid of Lauren Wild. “I’m sorry but I don’t trust that cop Lauren. It’s his vehicle; I know his vehicle; he’s a fucking asshole; the most crookedest cop,” David Elliott said.
During post shooting interviews BCI agent Michael Ness made numerous statements that have created significant suspicions about the integrity of BCI investigations.
Ness told Jennifer Elliott that he knew Jerad Braaten (the rookie cop on his first job that is heard planning a confrontation with Elliott on cam recording; the rookie cop that was not scheduled to work on the night in question; the rookie cop that was ‘training’ a UNDPD female intern on the night he was not scheduled to work; the rookie cop that asked the UNDPD female intern he was ‘training’ to fix his body-cam on his shirt only minutes before shooting someone; the rookie cop that did not have his body cam on during the several hours he was (supposedly) already working; the rookie cop that has his body-cam on wrong so it captured no visual; the rookie cop that (supposedly) did not activate his dash-cam) and that he was “meticulous” with “attention to detail”.
Ness also attested to the great character of Lauren Wild saying, “Lauren’s probably the nicest guy you’ll ever meet”.
Write Into Action has obtained BCI files regarding the Andrew Sadek case.
READ ALSO:
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The David James Elliott pursuit and shooting
- David James Elliott telephoned Grand Forks PSAP (911) almost immediately after GFPD Dan Harvala attempted to pull him over for running a red light. David Elliott had no meaningful criminal history and there is no known reason he would feel compelled to flee at very high speeds. He stayed on 911 with a police officer, GFPD officer Matthew Bullinger, for some two hours until he was shot while holding the phone.
- David Elliott made arrangements to meet GFPD officer Matthew Bullinger at Altru. After arriving in front of the E/R David Elliott is seen pointing in the direction where UND officer Jerad Braaten is approaching him. He fled again on four flat tires and was shot through his back window by Jerad Braaten.
- David Elliott was unarmed.
- David Elliott had thousands of prescription pills in his truck that BCI agent Michael Ness said where in “bags”.
- Jennifer Elliott, David Elliott’s wife, said all the pills her husband possessed were all coming from Altru doctors.
- Grand Forks PSAP deleted the 911 call.
- UND police officer Jerad Braaten was not scheduled to work on the night he interjected himself into a slow speed pursuit and shot David Elliott.
- UND police officer Jerad Braaten, a rookie cop on his first job, was inexplicably training an intern (on a night he was not even supposed to work), Heather Hopkins, on the night of the shooting.
- David Elliott was nearly completely stopped atop the Columbia Road Bridge where he was trying to meet GFPD officer Matthew Bullinger. He continued inching forward as Jerad Braaten was pointing a gun at him.
- The audio portion of UND police officer Jerad Braaten’s body-cam captured him telling Hopkins he hoped to provoke David Elliott into ramming him.
- David James Elliott told Write Into Action (Timothy Charles Holmseth) that Jerad Braaten attempted to shoot him minutes before the actual shooting, while atop the Columbia Road Bridge, but his gun jammed.
- The audio portion of Jerad Braaten’s body-cam reveals a clicking sound on Braaten’s gun that sounds like a misfire atop the Columbia Road Bridge.
- Jerad Braaten’s dash-cam was never found and/or entered into BCI evidence.
- Jerad Braaten’s body-cam was found underneath his squad car where he tried to hide it.
- Jerad Braaten did not put his body-cam on his shirt until a few minutes before he joined the pursuit and shot David Elliott (although he had supposedly been on-duty for hours).
- Jerad Braaten had UNDPD intern Heather Hopkins put the body-cam on his shirt, which was placed on him improperly and captured no visual (except the moment it’s thrown under the car).
- After the shooting, the audio portion of Jerad Braaten’s body-cam reveals he asked Heather Hopkins if she saw David Elliott try to run a police officer over. Hopkins promptly replied yes. Braaten then told her he would need a witness statement confirming it and she said she would give it. However, when Hopkins was interviewed by the BCI she balked, and said she didn’t see what happened.
- GFPD Sgt. Mark Ellingson, the officer that Jerad Braaten said he was worried about, is captured on audio at the scene telling Jerad Braaten he was never in any danger.
- UNDPD chief Eric Plummer reprimanded Jerad Braaten in writing regarding issues with his police-cams.
- GFPD chief Mark Nelson subsequently hired Jerad Braaten onto his Department.
- Videos obtained by Write Into Action have been tampered with by someone using a video editor. For instance – dash-cam from the squad car of GFPD officer Dan Harvala is in clear crisp color on most of the footage. However, the portion that actually shows the shooting in the distance has been converted to black and white which obscures the details.
- Video showing what happened atop the Columbia Road Bridge has been redacted.
- Videos obtained by Write Into Action reveal the time-stamps on the dash-cams do not even remotely match the events taking place on the officer body-cams.
- David Elliot was shot three times in the head and his ear drum was blown out. Two of his fingers were shot off but re-attached.
- After being hired by the GFPD, Jerad Braaten was at the scene of a fireworks accident in Grand Forks where a man’s fingers were blown off. The fingers disappeared. They were found later on a picnic table in East Grand Forks.
The following is my investigative opinion.
- It is my investigative opinion that Jerad Braaten sounds like a psychopath when he is talking to Heather Hopkins.
- It is my opinion Jerad Braaten may have taken the fingers from the fireworks scene and kept them. He may have placed them in the Red River Valley Campground as a trophy of what he did to David Elliott and/or an ominous message to the drug trafficking underworld.
- It is my opinion GFPD chief Mark Nelson has violated his oath, betrayed the public, and is engaging in extensive efforts to cover up events that involve drug trafficking, shootings, and homicide(s).
VISIT WWW.WRITEINTOACTION.COM
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