Fargo Police Chief Defends Investigative Process Following Wrongful Imprisonment of Tennessee Woman

Chief Zibolski defends Fargo Police after an AI lead led to the wrongful jailing of a Tennessee grandmother, citing a need for better communication and AI review.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 17, 2026, 6:49 PM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Valley News Live (KVLY)

The Role of AI in the Investigation

The controversy stems from an investigation initiated in early 2025 into bank fraud cases in Fargo. Detectives utilized an AI function provided through the North Dakota State Intelligence Center to identify a potential suspect. Chief Zibolski clarified that while the AI provided a lead, it was one of several investigative steps taken to build the case. He noted that the AI tool is not owned by the Fargo Police Department but is a state-level resource. Despite the eventual dismissal of charges against Angela Lipps, Zibolski maintains that detectives followed standard procedures, which included review by the Cass County State’s Attorney and a judge, who authorized a warrant with nationwide extradition—a move reserved for cases with substantial evidence.

A Five-Month Legal Ordeal

The timeline provided by the Fargo Police reveals a protracted legal process that kept Lipps in custody for nearly half a year. Following her arrest in Tennessee in July 2025, she was not booked into the Cass County Jail in North Dakota until late October. The case only began to unravel in mid-December when Lipps' court-appointed attorney presented new information, including bank records that provided an alibi. Charges were officially dismissed on December 23, 2025, and Lipps was released the following day. The Chief attributed part of the delay to a "notification gap," explaining that current jail policies do not automatically alert the investigating department when a suspect is booked on a warrant.

Dispute Over Release Conditions

Following her release, Lipps claimed via a GoFundMe campaign that she had "lost everything" and was left to navigate winter conditions in North Dakota without assistance to return home to Tennessee. Zibolski pushed back against these claims, stating that his department did not ignore her and that investigators believed there was sufficient cause for her detention at the time. He further noted that reports indicate Lipps was offered a hotel room and a ride, which she reportedly declined, and that she was provided with a winter coat by the county jail.