Native Sun News: Few answers in death of Oglala Sioux man

Monday, April 30, 2012  

The following story was written and reported by Karin Eagle, Native Sun News Staff Writer. All content © Native Sun News.

RAPID CITY, SOUTH DAKOTA –– Amidst speculation by family members and friends surrounding the death of Oglala Sioux Tribe member Erik Looks Twice, who was in police custody at the time of his death, all parties involved are now silent.

Many people in the community are wondering if this silence is an indication of yet another alleged cover-up of the unexplained death of a member of the Native American community in Rapid City.

In the days immediately following Looks Twice’s death on April 12, word went out about the confusion as to how and exactly where Looks Twice was thought to have actually died.

One of the allegations being made by some members of the Native community involves the fact that on April 8, Looks Twice was taken by the Rapid City Police Department to the City/County Alcohol and Drug Program facility, or what is more commonly referred to as the detox center, on La Crosse Street. Being highly intoxicated, Looks Twice is thought to have been taken to Rapid City Regional Hospital for treatment of delirium tremens, or DTs, which are caused by withdrawing from alcohol and drugs and can cause hallucinations and tremors.

The circulating claim also speculates that Looks Twice had possibly become highly agitated at the hospital, causing hospital staff to notify the police department to have him taken back into their custody.

Looks Twice was then reportedly taken to the Pennington County Jail, where he was found unresponsive during a routine cell check at 2 a.m. on April 10, according to a news release from the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office. He was then taken back to Regional Hospital, where he later died.

One of the most troubling allegations, which has not been substantiated by the reporting party, Regional Hospital or the RCPD, is that Looks Twice was admitted back to the hospital with visible signs of physical trauma.

The South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation is looking into the matter.

Chief Deputy Brian Mueller of the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office said that because the incident has been turned over to DCI, the sheriff’s office is not issuing any comments at this time.

Calls made to the City/County Alcohol and Drug Program’s detox center were met with no comment on the matter as well. Detox center Assistant Director Stacey Fielder told Native Sun News that all inquiries should be routed through the sheriff’s office.

RCPD Chief of Police Steve Allender was out of town and unavailable for comment at press time, and calls to Tarah Heupel, RCPD community relations specialist, had not been returned at press time.

An autopsy report is still pending.

Native Sun News will continue to monitor this story as it unfolds.

(Contact Karin Eagle at staffwriter2@nsweekly.com)