Sheriff asks BCA to investigate Cook Co. attorney, Scannell

The sheriff in Cook County has asked the state Bureau of Criminal Apprehension to investigate the county's top prosecutor who's accused of pursuing an improper relationship with a teenage girl.

Sheriff Mark Falk says it would be a conflict of interest for his department to investigate Cook County Attorney Tim Scannell. The prosecutor has been ordered by a judge to stay away from the 17-year-old girl and her parents. A judge found there are grounds to believe Scannell had harassed the girl by calling, following, pursuing or stalking her.

The Duluth News Tribune (http://bit.ly/Xb04ZF ) reports a petition for the restraining order says the 46-year-old Scannell was a family friend and coached and mentored the girl.

Scannell gained notoriety last year after he was wounded in a courthouse shooting in Grand Marais by a man he had successfully prosecuted.