West Fargo Police Chief Clarifies Role in Lipps Case

Nielsen says department shared intelligence with Fargo PD but did not file charges

Mar. 25, 2026 at 2:31am

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West Fargo Police Chief Pete Nielsen has issued a statement clarifying the department's involvement in the investigation of Angela Lipps. Nielsen said West Fargo police assisted Fargo police by using facial recognition software to identify a potential suspect, but West Fargo never filed any charges as they did not have enough evidence. The Fargo Police Department was leading the overall investigation.

Why it matters

This case highlights the growing use of facial recognition technology by law enforcement agencies and the need for transparency around how such tools are deployed, especially when assisting other departments. It also underscores the complexities of multi-jurisdictional investigations and the importance of clear communication between police forces.

The details

According to Nielsen, the West Fargo Police Department was involved in investigating an unauthorized use of personal identification case. The primary person of interest matched similar incidents that had occurred in Fargo, so West Fargo police used facial recognition software to try to identify a potential suspect. That intelligence was then shared with the Fargo Police Department, which was leading the overall investigation. However, West Fargo never filed any charges as they did not have enough evidence to do so.

  • The West Fargo Police Department became involved in the investigation in early 2026.

The players

Pete Nielsen

The Police Chief of the West Fargo Police Department.

Angela Lipps

The primary person of interest in the Fargo Police Department's investigation.

Fargo Police Department

The law enforcement agency leading the overall investigation.

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What they’re saying

“The West Fargo Police Department was involved in the investigation of an unauthorized use of personal identification case. The primary person of interest in this case matched similar incidents that took place in the City of Fargo.”

— Pete Nielsen, Police Chief, West Fargo Police Department

“The facial recognition software identified a potential suspect with similar features to Angela Lipps. That intelligence information was then shared with the Fargo Police Department, at their request, in relation to their open cases.”

— Pete Nielsen, Police Chief, West Fargo Police Department

“Any referral of charges would have been handled solely by the Fargo Police Department in relation to the case referenced.”

— Pete Nielsen, Police Chief, West Fargo Police Department

What’s next

The Fargo Police Department is expected to provide an update on the overall investigation and any potential charges in the coming weeks.

The takeaway

This case highlights the growing use of facial recognition technology by law enforcement and the need for clear communication and transparency between police departments when conducting multi-jurisdictional investigations.