Jail death investigated
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The apparent self-inflicted death of a Ward County Jail inmate is under investigation by the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation, a division of the office of Attorney General.
"We are an assisting agency," said Liz Brocker, Attorney General's office when asked about the BCI investigation.
There is no indication of any wrong doing on the part of jail administration or staff. The BCI is called upon to investigate such matters so as to prevent any appearance of impropriety. It is not known when the investigation will be completed.
Although the name of the deceased was not released by jail officials Monday, sources outside the jail confirmed to Minot Daily News that Walter "Buddy" Springstead, 24, was found dead in the jail during the early morning hours on Monday, reportedly between 3:00 a.m. and 4:00 a.m. The death appeared to be from hanging. The body was taken to Bismarck Monday for autopsy to determine an exact cause of death.
Springstead was picked up on a warrant last Friday for possession of drug paraphernalia and refusing to halt, and booked into the jail. The charges stemmed from an August second arrest. Springstead failed to appear for a pretrial conference Nov.16. A warrant for his arrest was issued two days later.
Late Monday, the Ward County Sheriff's Office issues a press release on the incident. "On Dec. 12th of 2016 at approximately 4:00 am during routine cell checks, that individual was found in his cell at the Ward County Jail unresponsive," the release read in part. "CPR was immediately given by staff who discovered the individual. Emergency medical assistance was requested and upon their arrival at the scene administered life saving measures. The individual was then transported via ambulance to Trinity Medical Center where after several attempts to revive him he was pronounced dead."
The Ward County Jail has been under intense scrutiny since it was served with an order of noncompliance on Dec. 19, 2014 following a Department of Corrections investigation that found care at the jail "grossly inadequate." A state monitor was assigned to the jail for a period of "up to one year" but the monitor continues to assess jail procedures beyond the 12 month period that was scheduled to expire in June of this year.
The monitor was assigned following the death of inmate Dustin Irwin in early October 2014, the event that triggered the Department of Corrections investigation. Irwin had been an inmate at the jail from Oct. 3 to Oct. 6, 2014 when he was part of a prisoner exchange with Burleigh County. Irwin died approximately 12 hours after the exchange at Coleharbor. According to the DOC investigation, Irwin did not receive proper medical care at the Ward County Jail.
The sheriff at the time Irwin was incarcerated and present at the exchange was Steve Kukowski. He was suspended from his position by Gov. Jack Dalrymple earlier this year. Kukowski is scheduled to go to trial Jan. 3, 2017 on two charges of reckless endangerment and one charge of public servant refusing to perform duty. Kukowski denies any wrong-doing. His attorneys have requested the case be dismissed. A ruling on the dismissal is expected later this month.
Ward County commissioners named Chief Deputy Bob Barnard interim sheriff in June of this year. They also agreed to continue to pay Kukowski's salary of $9,405 per month until the charges against him are resolved.