Suspect arrested in death of NDSU researcher

COOPERSTOWN, N.D. (AP) - Authorities have arrested a suspect in

the death of a North Dakota State University researcher.

Griggs County Sheriff Robert Hook says the body of 54-year-old

Kurt Johnson was found late Wednesday in a Cooperstown home.

Johnson had last been seen leaving a bar in the eastern North

Dakota town on New Year's Eve.

Hook declined to identify the suspect. State's Attorney Paul

Murphy tells The Forum newspaper that the man is being held in

Jamestown on an unrelated probation violation from California.

Johnson worked out of his Cooperstown home as an associate

research fellow for the Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute

at NDSU. Institute Director Gene Griffin says Johnson did a lot of

work with the state Transportation Department.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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