FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information, contact:
Williams County Sheriff’s Office
701-577-7700
sheriff@co.williams.nd.us
Statement from Williams County Sheriff’s Office
WILLISTON, N.D. (February 13, 2025): On January 22, 2025, a subject was taken into custody at the Williams County Correctional Center for driving under suspension and then held on a detainer for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). On February 11, 2025, the Williams County Sheriff’s Office was notified by ICE that an agent would be coming that day to transport the inmate for immigration processing. The inmate was released to an individual thought to be an ICE agent.
Within 20 minutes of the inmate’s release, the Correctional Center determined that the individual was not an ICE agent. Law enforcement officers immediately began an investigation to locate the inmate and unauthorized individual; they were both apprehended without incident.
The inmate was transported to the Ward County Detention Center and the unauthorized individual has been charged with Impersonating a Law Enforcement Officer (A Misdemeanor).
Leadership has taken corrective action to reinforce existing policies and procedures regarding Correctional Center security and unauthorized access.
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