A council member for the Blackfeet Nation of Montana was charged in connection with an alleged disturbance at tribal headquarters.

Roger “Sassy” Running Crane allegedly made threats at the office last week. He harassed staff members and made threats of physical violence, Chairman Willie Sharp Jr. said.

"You can’t go into a public place and verbally assault, verbally threaten and cause a public disturbance,” Sharp told The Great Falls Tribune.

One of Running Crane's allies, however, claims the arrest is politically motivated. Sharp has been at odds with several council members for more than a year.

“(Running Crane) is not an offender of the law. He is a councilman with a lifetime of public service who deserves to be treated as a distinguished member of our community," Shannon Augare, who has had some run-ins with the law, told the paper.

Running Crane was due to appear in tribal court to face the charges.

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Blackfeet councilman cited for criminal offense (The Great Falls Tribune 2/27)