SD tribal VP arrested, jailed
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — The vice president of an American Indian tribe suing some of the world's largest beer makers has been arrested and jailed for what police say was an alcohol-related incident.
A tribal court filing obtained by The Associated Press shows Thomas Poor Bear was arrested Feb. 19 on the Pine Ridge Reservation for obstructing government function while receiving treatment at a hospital.
Poor Bear of the Oglala Sioux Tribe told the AP Thursday the arrest was racially motivated and unrelated to alcohol.
A police officer notes in an arrest report that Poor Bear had "the odor of intoxicants on his breath" and a blood-alcohol content nearly quadruple the legal limit.
The Oglala Sioux Tribe has sued several beer makers, saying they are knowingly contributing to rampant alcoholism on the reservation.
4 comments:
yer kinda the equal opportunity dope-slapper, innit, Bob?
Yeah Larry, it is. Sad day. One of many sad days.
Damn. I can't imagine living in a town on the res. I've visited every res in SD several times, and stayed at Pine Ridge Village for a couple of weeks with a church thing. Traveled all over the res, met several people, attended several funerals. (They are a daily thing.)
When I worked at Fort Meade, we commonly had Indian patients.
I remember especially one guy, in his 40s, who grew up in Pine Ridge Village. He talked about walking to school, and, especially in winter, stepping around the dead bodies.
My God! What does that do to a person?
I would give just about anything to wave a magic wand to make life good there. Not just better, but Good.
I think that is a large part of why more people don't get involved and try to help. It's so overwhelming! And what to do?!
One thing not to do is to ban alcohol. Teaching a better way by example will do more than all the laws anyone can compose.
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