FARGO - A downtown concert and events venue has fired its general manager after discovering "numerous financial discrepancies," and police have opened an investigation.

The management and ownership of Sanctuary Events Center, 670 4th Ave. N., confirmed in a Monday, Jan. 15, statement to The Forum that Richard Pallay III is no longer associated with or representing the venue, which opened in June 2016. Pallay was the venue's first general manager.

Deputy Chief Joe Anderson said Monday that the Fargo Police Department was investigating "an incident" that took place at the venue, but said he couldn't release more information.

Kilbourne Group converted and renovated the former St. Mark's Lutheran Church, which now houses Sanctuary Events Center. The building is owned by property investment group DFI St Marks.

Monday's statement from venue management and ownership said Pallay was terminated and a criminal investigation was started once "numerous financial discrepancies" were found.

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"Due to the ongoing nature of this investigation we are unable to comment any further on specific details," they wrote in the statement.

The statement didn't say how large the financial discrepancies were, when the discrepancies were discovered or when Pallay was fired. But a Jan. 5 post on Pallay's personal Facebook page said he had left his job at the venue.

The post gave a biography of sorts of his experience, which includes serving as restaurant manager for Mezzaluna in downtown Fargo before joining the staff at Sanctuary Events Center, but didn't state why he left the position.

Pallay didn't immediately respond Monday to phone and Facebook messages seeking comment on the investigation.