KVLY accused of publishing fake news by family of police shooting victim

BCI Investigator: “You’ve got to realize they’re all owned by the same people”

by Timothy Charles Holmseth on December 15, 2016, 6:05 P.M. CST

“It appears a lawsuit may already be brewing, following the shooting of a man by a UND Police Officer in Grand Forks last weekend”

That was the lead line of a story published by Neil Carlson of KVLY following the shooting of David James Elliott – the unarmed man shot by a rookie University of North Dakota police officer in front of Grand Forks, North Dakota hospital emergency room in 2015.

But Jennifer Elliott – Carlson’s source – said it was not true.

Carlson, a reporter with KVLY (Valley News Live) allegedly published the fake news story after Jennifer Elliott refused to grant him an interview.

Interviews conducted by agents of the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) with Jennifer Elliott (David Elliott’s wife at the time of the shooting), and her mother, Margaret Dolan, reveal the two family members were greatly affected and distraught by the false reporting of KVLY.

According to Jennifer Elliott and Dolan, Carlson hounded Jennifer Elliott for an interview; promising her the station could use methods to disguise her identity but she declined.

Jennifer Elliott said KVLY then simply fooled their viewers into believing they had interviewed her by stating they had talked to her. Jennifer Elliott said when she heard the news station publish a teaser that they had talked; she was terrified at what they might have made up about the non-existent interview.

Jennifer Elliott said Carlson had other people contact her through Facebook to give her his cell phone number.

Dolan also said she knows the Grand Forks Herald, another publication in North Dakota, can’t be trusted but noted she has just gotten used to it.

“You’ve got to realize they’re all owned by the same people,” said BCI agent Michael Ness.

In a related story from August, 2016, Write Into Action exposed WDAZ, another North Dakota news station, after producers collaborated with presenters to fool their viewers about the same police shooting by hiding time-stamps of police-cam video so the public could not put together that the times of the body-cams did not match the dash-cams.

Write Into Action recently published a video showing BCI agents tried to provide the police shooter with a cover story after his body-cam was found hidden under his squad car.

Write Into Action contacted Neil Carlson earlier today for his side of the story but he did not respond.

The Office of North Dakota Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem was contacted for comment but stated state law does not require them to comment.

Neil Carlson
KVLY
Valley News Live

December 15, 2016

Mr. Carlson,

I am independently conducting a journalistic investigation into the cover up of the true facts surrounding the pursuit and shooting of David James Elliott on February 28, 2015 in the Altru Hospital parking lot.

I am reviewing BCI interviews that include David Elliott’s wife Jennifer Elliott and her mother, [Margaret Dolan]. During the interview you are mentioned by name and KVLY is accused of publishing fake news.

Nolan and Elliott mentioned an article regarding assertions Jennifer Elliott had obtained a lawyer and was going to sue.

Nolan said, “They manipulate and lie, boy”.

Jennifer Elliott said, “The one day I came home and I just lay down on the couch for a little bit and I’m laying there and you know how they give out the news – the little blip – the advertisement coming up – and I think they said; it was KVLY; well we talked to Jennifer Elliott or something were going to give a update; I sat up off the couch said ‘did they just say…” I’ve never spoken with them. They were calling me wanting to interview – I just said no … I’ve never given them any information whatsoever”.

There was considerable commentary about you.

My research at this point indicates you have done very, very little (if any) investigating in this matter, which would naturally include obtaining police-cams and the 911 call from the pursuit and shooting.

I will likely be publishing content regarding KVLY; feel free to comment on any questions surrounding your journalistic integrity regarding this police shooting story.

I am investigating the far ranging issues of public safety created by this police shooting that involve Altru, University of North Dakota, UNDPD, GFPD, GFSO, NDHP, and other agencies.

Sincerely,
Timothy Charles Holmseth
Investigative Journalist/Author/Publisher

Cc: North Dakota Attorney General

Timothy Charles Holmseth
320 17th Street N.W. 
Unit# 17
East Grand Forks, MN 
56721
218.773.1299
218.230.1597 (cell)
http://www.writeintoaction.com
tholmseth@wiktel.com                                                                              
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100009187154735

“Journalism is printing what someone else does not want printed: everything else is public relations.”
     – George Orwell

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North Dakota TV station WDAZ caught participating in on-air hoax of police shooting

by Timothy Charles Holmseth on August 2, 2016, 12:24 P.M. CST

Producers of a North Dakota television station have been caught tricking the American public about a police shooting by showing time-stamps of dash-cam video; but hiding the times on the body-cams.

The reason for the deception is because the Grand Forks Police Department, University of North Dakota Police Department, North Dakota Highway Patrol, and Grand Forks County Sheriff’s Office is covering up what appears to be an attempted murder connected to drug running and the Fraternal Order of Police.

On February 8, 2015, WDAZ, Forum Communications, aired a news story about a police shooting of an unarmed man that happened on February 28, 2015 in the parking lot of a Grand Forks hospital. The WDAZ story featured police body and dash-cam video that was captured during the bizarre two hour long slow speed pursuit of David James Elliott.

The times of events surrounding the pursuit and shooting of Elliott are easy to establish, because Elliott initiated a 911 call very shortly after a police officer tried to pull him over; and he remained on the phone with 911 for 107 minutes until the moment he was shot.

Elliott’s immediate flight from police, as well as other actions, create a strong appearance he personally knew some of the police officers chasing him and was afraid to pull over because he knew he was going to be killed.

Write Into Action has discovered WDAZ-TV used very specific techniques to obfuscate the time stamps on body-cam worn by an officer at the scene of the shooting as the shots were being fired.

WDAZ covered it up because the body-cam times did not correspond to other dash-cam time-stamps that were being used in the same news story.

The news station deliberately perpetuated a fraud upon trusting viewers.

SYNOPSIS OF THE WDAZ-TV POLICE SHOOTING COVER-UP

On February 28, 2015, UND police officer Jerad Braaten emptied his clip into David James Elliott, Grand Forks, in the parking lot of Altru Hospital at 12:47 A.M.

Police refused to talk to the media for three days following the shooting; would not give the public any details and withheld the name of the victim; it was clear something was not right.

Write Into Action made public records requests to obtain police body and dash-cam videos captured before and after the shooting.

Police body-cam shows David Elliott being shot at 12:36 A.M. (note: time stamp is in Greenwich Mean Time) as shown in the snap-shot below taken at the time shots are heard being fired (note: the blue glob you see on the right side of the image is David Elliott’s tail light).

However, dash-cam (shown below) shows David Elliott sitting atop the Columbia Road Bridge in his truck at 12:36 A.M. where he actually remained for several more minutes.

Obviously, David Elliott was not in his truck on the bridge and being shot in a distant parking lot at the same time.

Below is another dash-cam snap-shot taken at 12:39 A.M. where David Elliott can be seen talking to officers out the window of his pick-up truck atop the Columbia Road Bridge.

However, according to the body-cam worn by Sgt. Mark Ellingson, GFPD, the shooting is already over (see below) (see You Tube below for actual sound and video).

UND police chief Eric Plummer stated in a televised joint press release that Elliott was shot at around 12:45 A.M.

That time (12:45 A.M.) is essentially the correct time. Police cam obtained by Write into Action captures the sound of gunshots at 12:47 A.M. when an officer is heard saying “shots fired – shots fired”.

Write Into Action began investigating the shooting in 2015 and began requesting police-cam footage from the Grand Forks Police Department after the case was concluded.

That’s when WDAZ suddenly decided to run a story featuring police-cam video.

On February 8, 2016 WDAZ-TV aired a story about the police shooting where they strategically cover up the time-stamps of the body-cam.

During the introduction to the story, which is entirely critical of David Elliott, body-cam captured at the time of the actual shooting is featured behind the presenters Matt Henson and Stacie Van Dyke.

Van Dyke’s shoulder covers the time-stamp the whole time and it is never seen.

Shortly into the introduction, the video in the background changes from body-cam to dash-cam – the dash-cam shows the time of the shooting is 12:47 A.M. (see below).

It is clear WDAZ is allowing the viewers to see the time-stamps on the dash-cam.

In the video below, WDAZ again hides the time of the time-stamp on the body-cam by covering it with their logo.

PUBLISHED JULY 30, 2016 by WRITE INTO ACTION

Police-cam evidence captured at a police shooting in Grand Forks, North Dakota will not be turned over to Write Into Action by the Grand Forks Police Department (GFPD) without an Order from the federal court.

In a letter dated July 28, 2016, Grand Forks City Attorney Howard Swanson notified Write Into Action (Timothy Charles Holmseth) that existing requests for police-cam public records are now classified as Discovery, and will only be turned over in accordance with Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.

Swanson cites Holmseth v. City of Grand Forks et al. (16-cv-02496-JRT-LIB) (District of Minnesota) as the basis for the City’s decision.

Timothy Holmseth first initiated civil litigation in United States District Court on July 13, 2016 to request an Emergency Injunction that would forbid the planned destruction of police-cam video that capture the police shooting of an unarmed man on February 28, 2015 in the parking lot of Altru Hospital.

Swanson contacted Holmseth after a formal complaint filed by Holmseth against the GFPD Keeper of Records on July 25, 2016, was referred to his office.

Holmseth asserts the GFPD violated state and federal laws when they responded to multiple public records requests for police-cam evidence by providing video that has been carefully altered using a video editor. The alterations were performed to change critical times and conceal specific video pertaining to the events that led up to the shooting of David James Elliott.

North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) inventory records show that after the shooting of Elliott, investigators located the body-cam of University of North Dakota police officer Jerad Braaten underneath his UND squad car.

Braaten, the officer that shot Elliott, who was not even scheduled to work on the night in question, further claimed he was not able to produce his car’s dash-cam because, he said, he forgot to put the memory card in the camera.

On June 26, 2016, GFPD Police Chief Mark Nelson issued a “Special Order” that changed the Department’s policy on retention dates for police-cam video evidence.

Holmseth asserts Nelson’s action is part of a criminal conspiracy by a group of public officials to destroy records that will reveal the truth about the Elliott shooting and other crimes in the area – including the mysterious death of Caitlin Jenna Erickson, which occurred the same night.

On June 16, 2016, a person that identified them self as David James Elliott contacted Holmseth and said Braaten attempted to shoot Elliott while atop the Columbia Road Bridge in Grand Forks, several minutes before the actual shooting, but his gun jammed.

The first attempted shooting of Elliott may be what the GFPD is attempting to cover-up in the videos, because it reveals Braaten’s actions were not spontaneous, and he, along with other officers, were stalking Elliott to kill him.

BCI investigation records appear to support the fact something happened atop the Columbia Road Bridge with Braaten’s firearm, because investigators located an un-spent cartridge from his gun that linked to that location.

(Elliott) told Holmseth that Braaten lied to investigators about the cartridge, and only admitted that he had performed a function with his gun on the bridge after he was told the cartridge was found with his “fingerprints” on it.

Holmseth has obtained enough police cam video from the event to demonstrate the video has been altered – and segments of body-cam video that would have shown what occurred on the Columbia Road Bridge have been replaced with other video.

Following the 2015 shooting, UND Police Chief Eric Plummer issued a written reprimand to Braaten for his conduct regarding his police cams.

But life only got better for Braaten who was supplied a lawyer by the Fraternal Order of Police.

Grand Forks States Attorney David Jones said in a letter to Plummer that he viewed all the documents and videos surrounding the pursuit and shooting, and determined Braaten acted reasonably when he shot Elliott.

Braaten was subsequently hired by the GFPD to the exception of other candidates.

Some of the altered body-cam was turned over to WDAZ-TV by the GFPD; the regional North Dakota news station presented an entirely misleading story that made no mention of the fact the time of the shooting in the body-cam videos did not correspond with the dash-cams.

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Grand Forks Police dash cam exposes cover-up by ND Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem in police shooting of unarmed man

by Timothy Charles Holmseth on March 21, 2016, 12:43 P.M. CST

Dash-cam video from a Grand Forks Police Department (GFPD) vehicle proves the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) is covering up a murder plot.

Video of the David James Elliott pursuit, published by WDAZ, shows law enforcement is collectively lying about the events that occurred on February 27, 2015.

BCI investigators and dash-cam video place Grand Forks Sheriff’s Deputy Any Schneider at I-29 near Thompson, North Dakota at the moment the pursuit is called off at approximately 11:08 P.M.

However, the BCI also tries to place Schneider at the Grand Force Air Force Base, eating dinner at 11:00 P.M.

The secret was exposed after a Write Into Action investigation using the very short segments of video that was released to the public; released only after Write Into Action (Timothy Charles Holmseth) made a written request for the video from the GFPD.

Write Into Action compared the video timeline to the events timeline in the BCI investigative records.

GFSO Deputy Andy Schneider

At 11:07:57 P.M. in the officer cam video, the WDAZ reporter says, “the chase is called off near Thompson”.

At the same time (11:07:57 P.M.) in the published video, an officer can be heard saying over the police radio, “Since your terminating you don’t want me to deploy…”

The officer heard referring to ‘deploying’ is Grand Forks County Sheriff’s Deputy Andy Schneider. He is referring to his plan to deploy spike-strips on I-29 South, one mile north of Thompson, against David Elliott.

Here is how we know that.

This is what Schneider told BCI investigators during the BCI investigation into the shooting of David Elliott in the Altru Hospital parking lot that occurred at the end of the hours long pursuit.

1. Schneider told BCI investigators he believed the pursuit occurred between 10:45 – 11:00 P.M.

2. Schneider told BCI investigators he was West of Thompson, North Dakota and heading to the Grand Forks Air Force base to have dinner when he learned of the pursuit.

3. Schneider told BCI investigators he positioned his vehicle at a crossover one mile north of the Thompson, North Dakota exit.

4. Schneider told BCI investigators he deployed his spike-strips.

5. Schneider told BCI investigators GFPD Sgt. Mark Ellingson terminated the pursuit.

The BCI investigator reports Schneider did not have his emergency lights activated and walked into the ditch to avoid getting run into by David Elliott.

The aforementioned proves beyond all doubt Deputy Schneider was at the scene.

SCHNEIDER’S PRESENCE AT PURSUIT NOT MENTIONED IN GFSO AFFIDAVIT TO COURT

The Grand Forks County Sheriff’s Office attempted to conceal Schneider’s whereabouts and activities by omitting his presence near Thompson, North Dakota in an Affidavit filed with the court.

Now watch this.

In the very same report that the BCI investigators relays 1-5 above, he says, “Grand Forks Sheriff’s Department Deputy Nate Moen and Grand Forks Sheriff’s Department Sergeant Andy Schneider went to the Grand Forks Air Force Base in Grand Forks, North Dakota, at approximately 11:00 p.m., to have dinner.”

DID YOU CATCH THAT, FOLKS?

We know from the video that Schneider was at I-29 at 11:07:57 P.M. putting out spike strips.

SOURCE FOR WRITE INTO ACTION ANALYSIS

In regard to the first (1st) pursuit with DAVID ELLIOTT, Grand Forks Sheriff’s Department Sergeant Andy Schneider said he was west of Thompson, North Dakota, when it began. Grand Forks Sheriff’s Department Sergeant Andy Schneider believed that it occurred between 10:45 p.m., to 11:00 p.m., and he was heading towards the Grand Forks Air Force Base, Grand Forks, North Dakota, for dinner. Grand Forks Sheriff’s Department Sergeant Andy Schneider overheard via the radio that Grand Forks Police Department Officer Dan Harvala had a pursuit that began in Grand Forks, North Dakota, but was now southbound on Interstate 29 (I-29).
-BCI

Grand Forks Sheriff’s Department Sergeant Andy Schneider positioned his vehicle at a crossover about one (1) mile north of the Thompson, North Dakota, exit. Grand Forks Sheriff’s Department Sergeant Andy Schneider notified Grand Forks Police Department that he had deployed his spike strips. Grand Forks Sheriff’s Department Sergeant Andy Schneider indicated that Grand Forks Police Department Sergeant Mark Ellingson terminated the pursuit. The Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) relayed that DAVID ELLIOTT had called 911 and told them that he was going to hurt himself or others if law enforcement did not quit following him. It should be noted that Grand Forks Sheriff’s Department Sergeant Andy Schneider did not have his emergency lights activated and walked into the ditch to avoid getting run into by DAVID ELLIOTT. DAVID ELLIOTT continued southbound on I-29. Grand Forks Sheriff’s Department Deputy Nate Moen and Grand Forks Sheriff’s Department Sergeant Andy Schneider went to the Grand Forks Air Force Base in Grand Forks, North Dakota, at approximately 11:00 p.m., to have dinner.

READ ALSO –

BCI Records: North Dakota police completely LIED to public about shooting of unarmed man

Secret pursuit of David James Elliott began an entire HOUR before ‘suspicious vehicle’ call from Wells Fargo Bank

by Timothy Charles Holmseth on March 19, 2016, 11:37 A.M. CST

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