FARGO, N.D. (KFGO.com) – Members of a group that helped organize a George Floyd rally in Fargo on May 30 say they want an outside agency to investigate the Fargo Police Dept.
Wess Philome of Black Lives Matter claims that on the day of the rally, which was followed by a riot, former Deputy Police Chief Todd Osmundson was illegally surveilling the group with the permission of Police Chief Dave Todd.
Osmundson resigned a few days later. Todd revealed that when Osmundson was working undercover, he had been acting alone and independently without his permission.
“Surveillance of the protest would illegally continue throughout the day, via former Deputy Chief Osmundson, and the highest leaders of the Fargo Police Department, including Chief Todd and the other deputy chief were fully aware of the former deputy chief’s actions” Philome said. “It is our belief that the former deputy chief was made to be a scapegoat and that the problems in the department are deeper.”
“We have information that shows that the Fargo Police Department engaged in an illegal black ops mission against community activists and its citizens”
Philome refused to answer reporters’ questions about the allegations, or describe what kind of evidence the group has to support its claims.
A statement from the city of Fargo says it “remains fully committed to facilitating further dialogue with all parties who have a true desire to work collaboratively to address racial inequities in the metro community.”
(Jim Monk of sister station KFGO contributed this report.)
