Prosecutor Wants Ward County Sheriff Removed From Office

MINOT, N.D. (AP) — The prosecutor who brought misdemeanor charges against Ward County Sheriff Steve Kukowski now wants him removed from office.

Prosecutor Seymour Jordan has petitioned state Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem (STEHN'-juhm) to initiate the process of removing the sheriff. Stenehjem has about a month to investigate and make a recommendation to the governor.

Kukowski's attorney, Bruce Quick, tells the Minot Daily News that any consideration of removing Kukowski is premature. He says the sheriff is innocent until proven guilty.

Kukowski faces three misdemeanor charges related to the death of a jail inmate. Twenty-five-year-old Dustin Irwin, of Mandaree, died at a hospital in October 2014 after going into cardiac arrest.

An investigation by the state Corrections Department determined that jail officials failed to give Irwin proper supervision or medical treatment.