Bismarck police officer fired after investigation into excessive force allegations

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Editor’s Note: This article contains a graphic image. We are posting the photo because it illustrates the severity of the injuries related to the excessive force allegation.

A Bismarck police officer was fired after a department investigation into allegations he used excessive force during an arrest in March.

Officer George Huff was fired Sunday, according to the Bismarck Police Department.

On March 9, officers responded to a call that a pedestrian was on the roadway at 24th Street and East Main Avenue. The man began to display aggressive behavior when attempts were made to arrest him, police said. The department, after investigating the Tribune a few days after the incident, identified the man as Keith Erlandson, 63. The investigation was sparked by a booking photo from Burleigh Morton Detention Center in which Erlandson appeared bloodied and with a swollen eye closed.

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Huff was the first officer to arrive on the scene on March 9. Force was used to detain Erlandson, and assistant officers reported to the administration that the force appeared excessive. Huff was placed on administrative leave and did not return to duty until he was fired, the department said.

An investigation by Bismarck Police Internal Affairs led to a Disciplinary Review Board recommendation that Huffs’ employment be terminated.

Chief (Dave) Draovitch agreed that Huff violated several BPD policies and fired the officers’ jobs, according to a statement from the department.

Huff, at the time of the incident, had been with the department for approximately four years. He had no previous disciplinary documents on file, a department spokesperson said.

The department in Monday’s statement said the incident is not a reflection of the good work BPD officers do every day, with integrity.

Officers who promptly reported this issue to their chain of command took action to protect the safety of our community, as we expect of our force, officials said.

The findings of an investigation by the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation have been forwarded to prosecutors. On Monday, Burleigh County States Attorney Julie Lawyer did not immediately respond to a request from the Tribune for information on possible charges. Monday’s court records did not list any criminal charges against Huff.

(Check back for updates.)

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