WHAT'S ON YOUR MIND
By Scott Hennen
Host of “What’s On Your Mind?” Radio Show
heard on the Flag Family Network including KTGO 1090AM
in Watford City, Williston and Tioga, North Dakota
The case of Amanda Lipp is disturbing. A North Dakota woman arrested, extradited, and jailed for months, only to have serious questions emerge about whether she should have been charged at all. It’s the kind of story that shakes confidence in the system and demands accountability.
And right now, soon to be retired Fargo Police Chief Dave Zibolski is taking the brunt of the outrage.
Some of that comes with the job. Some of it is earned. But some of it, after hearing directly from the chief and reviewing what we know so far, feels like a classic pile-on aimed at the wrong target.
Let’s start with what we know.
Lipp was accused of a series of financial crimes in Fargo. Fargo Police investigated the case and forwarded it, as all such cases are, to the Cass County State’s Attorney. That office reviewed the evidence and decided to charge her. A judge then reviewed the case and signed off on a warrant, including nationwide extradition.
Lipp was arrested in Tennessee, jailed there, and eventually transported to Cass County. Here’s where things begin to unravel.
According to Zibolski, Fargo Police were never notified that Lipp had arrived at the Cass County Jail. That notification went to the State’s Attorney, not the investigating agency. Fargo detectives didn’t even know she was in custody until December, more than a month after she had been booked locally.
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