October 16, 2013

FBI agent shot during drug bust

By Neal A. Shipman
Farmer Editor

A Minot-based FBI agent was shot, but not seriously injured, while executing a search warrant east of Watford City in the early evening hours on Monday, Oct. 7.
According to Kyle Loven, FBI spokesman, the agent, who was working with a drug task force, suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was treated and released at a local hospital.
Randy Skarda, 52, of Keene was also injured and then taken into custody by the McKenzie County Sheriff’s Dept. While Skarda faces multiple drug charges, as well as possession of a firearm charge, he has not been charged in connection with the wounding of the FBI agent.
Loven said Skarda was also slightly injured during the incident and was treated and released at a local hospital.
According to the McKenzie County Sheriff’s Dept., Skarda has been charged with a Class A felony for possession of methamphetamine with intent to deliver; a Class B felony for possession of marijuana with intent to deliver; a Class C felony for possession of methamphetamine paraphernalia; a Class C felony for possession of a short barrel rifle; and a Class A misdemeanor for possession of marijuana paraphernalia.
Skarda, who was ordered to be held on a $100,000 bond during a bond hearing on Wednesday in McKenzie County Court before Judge David Nelson,  posted bond on Wednesday.
According to an Associated Press story, federal agents made several arrests on and around the Fort Berthold Reservation as part of phase two of Operation Winter’s End. As part of phase one of that operation, federal charges were filed against 22 individuals for conspiring to sell heroin among other drugs on the reservation.
According to the McKenzie County Sheriff’s Dept., the incident is currently under investigation by the FBI and the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation.

WATFORD CITY WEATHER