Sheriff denies allegations of cover-up

With two weeks to go before a hotly contested election, accusations sailed Tuesday following claims of a Goodhue County Sheriff's Office cover-up involving jail staff.

Questions began to swirl last week after a man standing at a Red Wing convenience store passed out flyers describing a sexual relationship between a female jailer and a male inmate during 2008. According to the flyer - which was not signed - the jailer was never charged following the incident.

The flyer, which calls on readers to "disband the 'Good ol' Boys' club in your county," alleges Sheriff Dean Albers and Chief Deputy Scott McNurlin covered up the situation.

Though he did not confirm details outlined in the flyer, Albers said there was an 2008 internal investigation into "suspected misconduct" at the jail, but he said the allegations were unsubstantiated. Albers said the female jail worker was not reprimanded in the case, though he said she later resigned for other reasons.

See the full story in Wednesday's print edition, including reaction from both sheriff candidates.

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