"Pine Ridge tribal president Cecelia Fire Thunder wants an extradition agreement with the state, before she'll hand over two brothers facing charges related to a fight in Hot Springs.

By all means. Let's work out that agreement. We should have had one long ago.

Gov. Mike Rounds asked Fire Thunder to extradite brothers Dirk and Dakota Garnier. Dakota Garnier faces an attempted first-degree murder charge, and both face aggravated assault charges in the fight. George Birlew already is being held in Fall River County Jail on a charge of attempted first-degree murder.

But Fire Thunder said there would be no extradition until there's an agreement.

State Attorney General Larry Long said Fire Thunder was referring to a 1977 law that limits the power of the state to extradite someone from a reservation unless there's an agreement with the tribe. States have such agreements with each other.

Let's work out that agreement. It only makes sense."

Get the Story:
Editorial: Extradition compact with tribes overdue (The Sioux Falls Argus Leader 9/27)

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