Fargo city staff conducted two routine inspections of the Osgood Townsite Apartments in 2025, yet the inspections did not capture the unit where prosecutors allege a woman was held hostage for two years. The inspections, performed on November 18 and December 18, focused on the first‑floor units and a follow‑up check for emergency lighting and garbage disposal issues.
Inspection details
Fargo Inspections Director Shawn Ourandik told The Forum that inspectors checked all first‑floor units on November 18 and found no violations. Because no issues were noted, they “spot‑checked” the remainder of the building, a practice he described as common. The second visit on December 18 addressed concerns about emergency‑light illumination and a garbage‑disposal problem.
Ourandik said the inspector could not recall whether Unit 306 – the apartment at 4911 44th Ave. S. where the alleged kidnapping occurred – was entered during either inspection. “There is no note in the system showing the apartment was checked,” he added.
Alleged kidnapping case
Cass County State’s Attorney’s Office alleges that Arturo Calzada‑Becerril, 40, and Erendira Amoles, 41, chained a woman to a bed in Unit 306 beginning November 3, 2024, and kept her there for two years. Court documents describe a bucket used as a bathroom, a webcam aimed at the bed, and tin‑foil covering the windows. The woman, born in the United States with family in Mexico, reportedly suffered beatings and sexual assault.
Calzada‑Becerril and Amoles claim the woman had mental‑health problems and that they feared she would flee if not restrained. The complaint notes the couple never sought medical care for her, and she had no formal mental‑health diagnosis. Prosecutors say the couple held her to obtain immigration status.
Both defendants have been charged with felony kidnapping; Calzada‑Becerril also faces a domestic‑violence count, while Amoles is charged with misdemeanor simple assault. They remain in the Cass County Jail on a $500,000 bond each.
Property management response
Property Resource Group (PRG) owns the Osgood Townsite Apartments. Chief Operating Officer Kyle Freier declined to discuss the case or the timing of the most recent property‑management inspections, noting the ongoing Fargo Police Department investigation. Freier said residents sign contracts that comply with state and federal law, and that landlords may enter units for repairs, inspections, or emergencies, provided they give reasonable notice and do not abuse the right of access.
North Dakota Century Code requires landlords to notify tenants and obtain consent before entry, unless an emergency makes it impractical. The law does not specify how much notice must be given before an inspection.
City’s inspection policy and next steps
Ourandik explained that city inspectors typically revisit a complex every three years if no violations are found. The last city inspection of the Osgood Townsite Apartments before 2025 occurred in 2020, and the city received no complaints from the property at that time.
City inspectors knock on doors and may enter if no one answers, though tenants can refuse entry under state law. “If my inspector did look at 306 and there were no deficiencies and no evidence of odd behavior, we would not have entered any notes,” Ourandik said. “The lock that was on the bedroom door would have been noted if it was there during an inspection.”
Mayor Josh Boschee has formed an Advisory Council on Rental Housing, which met for the first time on November 4. The council, comprising renters, property managers and other stakeholders, will meet monthly to review rental‑housing policies and safety procedures.
Ourandik said the city will work with the advisory council and other staff to consider any changes to inspection practices. “We will work through that committee and with other city staff if we make any changes,” he said.
Community reaction
Residents and advocacy groups have expressed concern that a two‑year captivity could go unnoticed despite routine inspections. PRG emphasized that safety and security remain a priority and thanked its team for cooperating with police.
While the investigation continues, the case highlights the importance of thorough inspection protocols and clear communication between landlords, city officials and tenants to protect vulnerable residents.
Original reporting: InForum (Fargo section) — read the source article.
