LAKE ANDES, S.D. – A town police officer who has a reputation of
mistreatment of American Indians has returned as police chief and the
Yankton Sioux Tribe is angry.

The Yankton Sioux Tribal Business and Claims committee issued a statement
that said it was appalled at the decision to return Jeremiah Nelson as
chief of police in Lake Andes. The small town of 800 is located on the
Yankton Reservation. The city government is controlled by the non-Indian
community. American Indians make up the majority of the population in the
city for that portion of the county.

Nelson was accused of abuses against American Indian residents while he was
a police officer, but was exonerated of those abuses. He was most recently
a police chief in a small town near Lake Andes and was asked to return by
Lake Andes Mayor Merritt Stegmeier.

Stegmeier said he and the city were backing Nelson, “until we find
something that shows he has acted inappropriately.”

The Yankton tribal officials, in a prepared statement, stated that tribal
members had “countless” complaints of racial profiling, unjustified road
stops and searches, including cases of excessive force and brutality.

“This decision to appoint Nelson as the Chief of Police was not done in the
spirit of good intent but rather to further ignite racial dissension in a
community that had just begun to recover from Nelson’s previous employment
with the city,” the tribal council stated.

Stegmeier said the charge that Nelson was appointed to create a division is
“totally unfounded.” He said he did not know about Nelson’s reputation
other than one incident for which he was found to be not at fault.

But protest organizer Charon Asetoyer said “Stegmeier knew what he was
doing. This act was to incight racial tension … This situation could have
been avoided.” Asetoyer is executive director of the Women’s Resource
Center in Lake Andes.

“I want to know why Nelson came back. He knows he’s not liked around here.
The racial profiling has returned around here, like before he left. Nothing
good will come from his return,” Asetoyer said. “Nelson is exhibiting old
behavior. He pulled a gun out on two people in their home.”

She went on to say that a youngster had a toy pistol that had an orange
tip. Nelson, she said, pulled his gun and ordered the parents out of the
house.

One indicator that trouble is brewing is the fact that Nelson ordered more
arms and flak jackets for the police department.

“When you treat people like that it sets things up and sets the community
back. We are going back to the days of no civil rights.”

The mayor was asked by the tribe and residents to rescind Nelson’s
appointment as chief of police, but a letter to the council brought no
response.

Nelson was involved with an incident nearly a year ago when he was accused
of using excessive force against 21-year-old Keeler Hopkins. Nelson
admitted in the police report after a foot race “my flashlight struck him
in the head.”

Hopkins tells the story differently. “[Nelson] hit me with the bottom of
the flashlight, and said see what happens when you run cowboy.”

Hopkins was treated for a cut forehead, swelling and bruising to the face
and head. He was treated in a hospital and received seven stitches.

Nelson was exonerated of any charges by the city council and police chief.
Stegmeier said all of those accusations against Nelson were “unfounded.”

Jennifer Ring, executive director of the ACLU of the Dakotas said to
outsiders it looks like the non-Indian community is encouraging the type of
behavior Nelson has been accused of.

Ring acknowledged that tensions were present in the small community, that
non-Indians control the community that is dependent economically on the
reservation.

An economic boycott of Lake Andes businesses was organized and marches have
taken place down the main street.

This isn’t the first time Lake Andes has seen marches and boycotts. In 2000
marches took place to protest alleged police brutality against an American
Indian youth in a city park. Police officer Michael Atwood was accused of
choking a 12-year-old boy. Atwood was exonerated of any wrongdoing by then
Police Chief R.G. Svatos, and remained on the police force.

It was expected by tribal officials that the mayor would downplay any
effect the boycott would have. The tribally owned plaza near Fort Randall
Casino, some six miles south of Lake Andes, has seen an increase in the
sale of grocery items.

The Yankton Sioux Tribe operates a casino south of Lake Andes, which is
considered to create an economic base for Lake Andes and for two other
towns within close proximity.

Laura Houseman, owner of a bar in Lake Andes, said her business had seen
some drop, not because of the boycott, but because of the new law
enforcement. “People are afraid to come out.”

She said American Indian and non-Indian clientele still come and are not
influenced by the boycott, but people from nearby towns are reluctant to go
to the bar because of law enforcement.

Within the county and district that serves Lakes Andes and other
communities, the population is near 80 percent American Indian. The county
and district are controlled solely by non-Indian elected officials.

“It’s time Native Americans stand up and participate. There may be a
paradigm shift, or at least parity achieved in the city and county
government,” Asetoyer said.