Officer indicted for death of Ramapough man

Wednesday, March 28, 2007  

A New Jersey state park police officer was indicted on Tuesday for the shooting death of a member of the Ramapough Lenape Nation.

Chad Walder faces a charge of second-degree manslaughter. He is accusing of killing Emil Mann, 45, on April 1, 2006, during a scuffle between park officers and tribal members

Also indicted were two tribal members on charges of disarming a police officer, aggravated assault and resisting arrest and on charges of carrying a switchblade and a handgun loaded with hollow-point bullets.

The incident heigthened tensions between the tribe and the state. Some tribal members felt the state wasn't doing enough to investigate the shooting.

Gov. Jon S. Corzine (D) eventually met with the tribe and formed a special Indian affairs commission.

Get the Story:
N.J. police officer indicted in shooting of tribe member (The Journal News 3/28)
Park officer indicted in tribe member's death (The Newark Star-Ledger 3/28)
Park Officer Is Indicted in Shooting (The New York Times 3/28)
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Two Ramapoughs also charged in Mahwah encounter (The Bergen Record 3/28)

Relevant Links:
Ramapough Lenape Indian Nation - http://www.ramapoughlenapenation.org

Related Stories:
Ramapough family sues state over police shooting (01/12)
Ramapough family to sue over police shooting (1/11)
Column: Still no answers on Ramapough death (1/10)
Ramapough Tribe upset with probe into shooting (10/13)
Governor pledges investigation of Ramapough shooting (04/20)
Governor to meet with Ramapough Tribe (4/19)
Ramapough man shot by police officer to be buried (4/13)
Family of Ramapough man to sue police for death (4/12)
Ramapough man shot by state police officer dies (4/11)
State AG to probe shooting of Ramapough man (4/6)
Officers faulted in shooting of Ramapough man (4/5)
Ramapough Tribe angry after officer shoots man (4/4)