Valley City  (Valley News Live) – BCI (The Bureau of Criminal Investigations) is now looking into the arrest, jailing, and death of Warren Lindvold.

The 72-year-old died six days after being arrested by Valley City Police on suspicion of a DUI on July 15. Lindvold’s preliminary autopsy lists a fracture of his cervical spine as his cause of death. Lindvold suffered from ankylosing spondylitis, a type of arthritis that ultimately fused his spine – leaving him unable to turn his head.

Video of Lindvold’s arrest shows officers put him in a pain compliance hold and dragging him.

So far, representatives for the Valley City Police Department have refused to comment on the BCI investigation.

Below is the full response from the Barnes County State’s Attorney Carl Martineck on the BCI investigation:

On August 2, 2018, the Barnes County Sheriff requested assistance from the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation to further look into the circumstances surrounding the death of 72-year-old Barnes County resident Warren Lindvold. Mr. Lindvold died in a Fargo hospital on July 21, after being arrested and detained at the Barnes County Correctional Facility.

Officers from the Valley City Police Department initiated a traffic stop of Lindvold at approximately 12:42 am on July 15. He was arrested for DUI and transported to the Police Department for further DUI testing at approximately 1:06 am. Videos of the stop, arrest, and events in the Police Department garage were previously released by the City of Valley City and made available to the public.

Lindvold was then transported to the Correctional Facility at approximately 1:20 am, where he continued to complain of neck and shoulder pain and difficulty moving. Prior to being booked in, Lindvold was transported by ambulance to Mercy Hospital in Valley City at approximately 2:00 am. He was “medically cleared” by hospital staff and transported back to the Correctional Facility by VCPD officers at approximately 3:00 am. Lindvold walked into the Correctional Facility under his own power, with the assistance of VCPD officers.

After being booked in, Lindvold complained that he was unable to stand. Correctional Facility video and a police report confirm that Lindvold was carried to his cell by a correctional officer and a police officer. During regular rounds, correctional officers first observed Lindvold sleeping in his bed, and then on the floor. Lindvold later informed correctional officers that he was unable to get off the floor or move his hands, and that he couldn’t feel his arms or legs. An ambulance was requested by correctional officers at approximately 8:00 am.

The Preliminary Autopsy Report was provided to the State’s Attorney on August 15, and indicates that the cause of Mr. Lindvold’s death is a fracture of the cervical spine. The State Medical Examiner’s Office informed the State’s Attorney’s Office that preliminary findings are based on an initial assessment by the pathologist and are subject to change following the complete examination which includes investigation, histology, toxicology and other factors. The final report is expected to be completed within four to six weeks.

The purpose of the BCI investigation is to determine whether a criminal act took place which resulted in Mr. Lindvold’s death. At this time, no particular individual is a target of this investigation and it is premature to speculate on the cause of the injury. Once all of the facts are known, the State will be able to comment further on the criminal culpability, if any, of the parties involved.

The State has been in contact with Cash Aaland, attorney for the family of Mr. Lindvold, in accordance with its obligations under Marsy’s Law. The investigation being conducted by Mr. Aaland pertains to civil liability.