Grand Forks, North Dakota (trfnews.i234.me) — A former Grand Forks Police Department (GFPD) officer, Carrie Sell, has filed a federal lawsuit alleging she was retaliated against and wrongfully terminated after reporting alleged misconduct by fellow officer Benjamin Wiebolt. Sell claims she faced gender discrimination and that the department failed to address her concerns appropriately.
Sell began her tenure with GFPD in December 2021. According to her complaint, she entered into a relationship with Wiebolt, which ended in August 2024. Post-breakup, Sell alleges that Wiebolt engaged in stalking behavior, including accessing her home security cameras without permission and following her to various locations. She reported these incidents to her superiors, but claims the department’s response was inadequate and led to her being placed on performance improvement plans and ultimately terminated in October 2024.
The lawsuit names the City of Grand Forks, Lt. Travis Benson, Sgt. Robert Starr, and former Chief Mark Nelson as defendants, accusing them of negligent hiring, supervision, and retention, as well as sex discrimination and retaliation in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. Sell asserts that the disciplinary actions against her were based on “petty incidents” and that her personnel file was expanded post-termination with inaccurate or misleading information.
In contrast, Wiebolt’s personnel records reveal prior misconduct, including a 2021 DUI conviction and other disciplinary issues. Despite this, he remains employed with GFPD, though he is currently on administrative leave pending an unrelated internal investigation.
Sell’s lawsuit seeks damages exceeding $75,000 and aims to highlight systemic issues within the department regarding the treatment of female officers and the handling of internal complaints.
Did you know?
In North Dakota, law enforcement officers are subject to oversight by the Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Board, which reviews cases of misconduct and can impose disciplinary actions, including license suspension or revocation.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News