Security cameras at the Cheyenne Depot, a gas station and convenience store in Lame Deer, Montana, captured an incident involving a Northern Cheyenne man and a Bureau of Indian Affairs police officer. Image from Google Maps
Northern Cheyenne man beaten by B.I.A. Police during arrest
By Clara Caufield
Native Sun News Correspondent LAME DEER—Mary Old Bear, mother of Arlyn Castro, is very angry. She reports that her son Arlyn Castro was recently beaten at the hands of a B.I.A. police officer while being arrested for intoxication at the Cheyenne Depot in Lame Deer on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation. The entire incident was captured on video tape by the Cheyenne Depot Convenience Store. The store has since downloaded that footage and provided to Old Bear. Carrie Lou Braine, Cheyenne Depot Manager said, “The whole thing went on for some time. I only watched part of the video because it sickened me.” On Thursday, August 20, Castro was reportedly “very drunk” in the community park next to the Cheyenne Depot in Lame Deer. According to Braine, a B.I.A. officer (name unable to be ascertained, though she thinks it is a Hispanic officer, relatively new to the Northern Cheyenne force) was in the convenience store. “I don’t know if he was responding to the incident or just getting gas or something to eat,” she remarked. “The local B.I.A. officials do not normally respond to our calls unless it has to do with a drunk in the park. They specifically refuse to answer calls related to minor theft or shoplifting, a major problem for our business.” The video tape shows the officer summoning Castro to the police vehicle. Castro complied and “assumed the position,” hands over head, straddled against the police vehicle. Then, on video, the officer seemed to order Castro to perform other commands. When Castro was unable to comply, the officer kicked Castro’s feet out from under him, causing that suspect to fall to the ground, face down. As video-taped, the officer then pulled out a baton and began beating Castro. There were several local witnesses to this scene including Robert Simpson and his young daughter, Sierra, age 14. “She was very worried about someone getting hurt and it traumatized her,” said Robert, founder of Black Horse Pride a nonprofit dedicated to teaching Northern Cheyenne and area youth about pride and respect. As shown on tape, Simpson went to the scene, got Castro under control, advising the officer to handcuff the suspect and transport him to the jail. The officer complied. “I think the officer could have handled the situation better," Simpson said. "He threw that Castro kid on the ground and outweighed him by at least 150 pounds. The officer pulled out his club and beat him at least at five times. I didn’t want that kid to get in any more trouble.” In the meantime, Mary Old Bear and her son Arlyn Castro intend to file a complaint/tort against the local B.I.A. federal law enforcement official for police brutality. “This underscores my belief that the Tribe has to take law enforcement back under P.L. 93-638," Braine said. Mary Old Bear agrees. “At Northern Cheyenne, I think that people who get drunk, especially ex-felons, are in great jeopardy under federal police officers. This is not right.” B.I.A. Police Chief Donovan Wind would not comment on this particular incident because he was not familiar with it. “This is the first time I’ve heard about it,” he replied. Wind, who has a background in internal affairs, did say he will look into the matter. He was also careful to advise that the actions of one officer should not reflect upon the entire force, manned by some Northern Cheyenne officers of Interior. Efforts to contact Darling were not successful. Old Bear also reports that she has been unable to meet with Chief Wind to discuss the incident. “I’ve gone to his office several times, but I’ve been unable to speak with him. He’s always in a meeting or not at work. I’ve also been trying to contact the Tribal President to let him know what’s going on.” Tim Lame Woman, general district chairman for the Northern Cheyenne Reservation and a criminal defense advocate in the tribal court system with more than 30 years of experience said “I’ve seen these type of complaints before, very common. This is why we need a Tribal Law and Order Commission re-activated, as promised by the Tribal President. Right now, people can only appeal to the law and order system and I doubt anything will happen, as with many other complaints.” Lame Woman also noted: “The Law and Order Commission and other law and order concerns should be a priority to our current candidates running for the Tribal Council and be followed up on.” Officials from the Bureau of Indian Affairs Law Enforcement said that an investigation has been opened by the Department of Justice’s Internal Affairs division in to the matter. (Clara Caufield can be reached at acheyennevoice@gmail.com) Copyright permission Native Sun News
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