Former Griggs County sheriff faces felony charge

Michael Beaver, the former sheriff of Griggs County and a former Eddy County deputy, has been charged with a felony for tampering with public records.

The charge relates to Beaver's time as Griggs County Sheriff earlier this year, and his response to a controversy about aggressive policing at a community event.

Beaver was criticized by residents and Griggs County commissioners when several troopers of the North Dakota Highway Patrol (NDHP) were patrolling in and around Cooperstown the night of an annual April fundraiser called, "The Smoker."

The charity event is an all-you-can-eat-and-drink fundraiser, and according to statements from multiple residents heard by commissioners, the additional police presence led to many no-shows.

Beaver was ultimately asked for a copy of the email in which he requested help from the NDHP.

According to court documents, he told commissioners in April that he only requested one additional trooper, and then submitted a redacted email chain between himself and the N.D. Highway Patrol showing he hadn't requested assistance specifically for the charity fundraiser.

However, court documents allege that the email chain he showed commissioners – which is a government record – was altered by Beaver.

"During the commission meeting on May 6th, 2024 the original email that was sent by Michael Beaver on April 10th, 2024 to the NDHP, was provided showing that Michael Beaver had actually requested NDHP assistance in Cooperstown specifically for the community event," states court documents.

"The email had been altered by Michael Beaver to change the request from Cooperstown to Griggs County. Michael Beaver admitted to altering the record during the commission meeting."

The original email also shows that Beaver redacted a portion showing that he requested more than just one trooper from the NDHP, contradicting what he told commissioners.

Beaver submitted his resignation as Griggs County Sheriff later that day, and court documents further state that Beaver admitted to investigators that he altered the email.

Beaver was subsequently charged on Friday, Sept. 6 for tampering with public records, a Class C Felony with a maximum penalty of five years' imprisonment and/or a $5,000 fine. A warrant was issued for his arrest.

That same day he also resigned from the Wells County Sheriff's Office, where he had been hired as Chief Deputy following his resignation from the Griggs County Sheriff's Office.

Beaver was previously an Eddy County deputy from late October 2014 to mid-August 2017.

At his first court appearance on Monday, Sept. 9, Beaver was released on a personal recognizance bond. His next court appearance will be a preliminary hearing scheduled for 1:15 p.m Tuesday, Oct. 22 in Griggs County court.

Beaver is considered innocent unless proven guilty.