Breaking News: Weed coordinator put on leave, investigation underway into alleged "impropriety" involving commissioner's property

An investigation by an outside law enforcement agency is underway to determine the validity of allegations involving the county weed coordinator using county equipment on property owned by a Stillwater County commissioner.
Stillwater County Weed Program Coordinator William Patterson was put on administrative leave with pay June 21, pending the results of the investigation, according to County Finance and Human Resource Specialist Joe Morse
Patterson is accused of allegedly using county equipment to spray private property belonging to Stillwater County Commissioner Dennis Shupak.
Shupak has "recused himself from any action or discussion on this matter," said Morse.
The allegations were made to Stillwater County Attorney Nancy Rohde, who in turn notified the commissioners as well as the Stillwater County Sheriff's Office. In a letter from Rohde to the Weed Board and the commissioners, she describes the complaint as "accusations of impropriety, if not criminal activity."
Specifically, Rohde's letter states that "it has been alleged, and evidence produced, that Will Patterson has been spraying private property with County equipment and possibly supplies. Such an act could rise to the elements of theft, and could be classified as a misdemeanor or felony dependent upon the type and the cost amount. To compound the matter even further, the allegations include that the private property Patterson was spraying belong to current County Commissioner Dennis Shupak."
That evidence includes several photographs.
The letter was dated June 21, 2016. The letter requested that the Weed Board hold an emergency meeting and vote on whether to place Patterson on administrative leave pending the investigation and then inform Commissioners Maureen Davey and Gerald Dell of the decision.
Rohde's letter also addressed the need to immediately conduct an investigation into the allegations to determine what happened and Shupak's knowledge of it, or lack thereof.
"An investigation is not a pronouncement of guilt, but rather an opportunity to prove or disprove allegations," Rohde stated.
On Tuesday, June 21, Rohde reported the matter to the Stillwater County Sheriff's Office. Undersheriff Chip Kem said the Yellowstone County Sheriff's Office was contacted and is conducting the investigation.
It is a common practice to have outside agencies conduct investigations involving county or city employees in order to avoid the appearance of a conflict.