WILLISTON – Leadership at the Williams County Correctional Center has reinforced existing policies and procedures related to center security after an individual impersonating a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent removed an inmate on Tuesday.

According to a Williams County Sheriff’s Office news release, on Jan. 22, a subject was taken into custody at the correctional center for driving under suspension and then held on a detainer for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). On Feb.11, the sheriff’s office was notified by ICE that an agent would be coming that day to transport the inmate for immigration processing. The inmate was released to an individual thought to be an ICE agent.

Within 20 minutes of the inmate’s release, the correctional center determined the individual was not an ICE agent. Law enforcement officers immediately began an investigation to locate the inmate and unauthorized individual; they were both apprehended without incident, according to the release.

The inmate was transported to the Ward County Detention Center and the unauthorized individual has been charged with Impersonating a Law Enforcement Officer, a Class A misdemeanor.

Corrective actions have been taken regarding security and unauthorized access to the correctional center, the sheriff’s office reported.