A revolver Moorhead police believe was stolen from a Cass County deputy may spur a theft investigation.
In court records filed Tuesday, police say a man charged in an armed robbery at a Moorhead Stop-N-Go on Feb. 10, James Clint Lafayette Taylor, 21, of Fargo, is suspected of stealing a pistol from a Cass County sheriff's deputy.
Though the deputy isn't named in the complaint, Cass County Capt. Rick Majerus said the .38-caliber pistol was owned by Sgt. Duane Nitschke.
Majerus said the small handgun was not a service weapon, and Nitschke will not face any internal discipline linked to the theft.
A criminal investigation concerning the alleged gun theft is likely, though not until after the robbery case is prosecuted, he said.
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Nitschke declined comment about the theft on Wednesday, referring any questions to Majerus.
Majerus said Nitschke didn't use the pistol on a regular basis, and the safe it was kept in was still locked when he checked it. Nitschke didn't know the handgun was missing until law enforcement asked him about it, court records say.
Taylor was friends with one of Nitschke's stepsons, according to the complaint. Taylor admitted he had stolen the pistol to a stepson of Nitschke, said he'd return the gun and then didn't, court records allege.
Though the gun is mentioned in the robbery complaint against Taylor, it's not clear if police working the case believe the .38 was used in the Moorhead stickup.
Readers can reach Forum reporter Dave Roepke at (701) 241-5535
