"The tragic weekend altercation between state park police officers and Ramapough Mountain Indians demands a rigorous and thorough investigation by Bergen County Prosecutor John Molinelli. So far, the information about the shooting incident simply does not add up, and the prosecutor's silence on the case has only compounded the problem.

During a confrontation between park police officers and an estimated two dozen Ramapoughs, Emil Mann, a 43-year-old Ramapough from Monroe, N.Y., was shot at least twice. His cousin, Otis Mann, 42, is being held in the Bergen County Jail on $100,000 bail on charges that include aggravated assault and possession of a weapon. Prosecutors say Otis Mann grabbed a police baton and tried to injure two park police officers, Lt. Kelly Gottheimer and Officer Kenneth Kriete.

But the prosecutor took more than 48 hours to release the name of a third officer, Chad Walder, who fired the weapon. Mr. Walder has been placed on administrative leave. What's more, Mr. Molinelli has given no indication that Emil Mann, who was in critical condition in Hackensack University Medical Center, was even involved in the fracas. Authorities have said that Mr. Mann was shot twice in the leg, but the Ramapoughs say he was shot twice in the chest and once in the groin.

So why did Mr. Walder fire at him?

Some Ramapoughs were reportedly riding all-terrain vehicles just before the incident. Although ATVs are illegal in state parks, that should not have precipitated a violent confrontation. How did the situation spiral out of control?"

Get the Story:
The Mahwah shooting (The Bergen Record 4/5)

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

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Ramapough Tribe angry after officer shoots man (4/4)